Local Food Purchasing Grants for Food Banks
New program funds grants for food banks and similar entities to procure and distribute locally produced food. Builds on the COVID-era LFPA program that ended in early 2025.
What it does
A new grant program funds food banks, food pantries, school food programs, and similar entities to procure and distribute locally produced food.
The program directly builds on the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement (LFPA) that USDA ran during the COVID era and that the Trump administration ended in early 2025.
Why it matters
LFPA was an unusually effective COVID-era program:
- Connected small and mid-sized farmers to food bank networks
- Increased local food sourcing in food assistance
- Supported regional food systems development
When LFPA was ended, the loss was felt particularly by:
- Beginning farmers who relied on food bank purchasing
- Small specialty crop growers
- Tribal agricultural operations
- Black and Latino farmers in regional food economies
The new program restores a federal mechanism for this kind of work.
Funding
The new program is part of the broader Title IV discretionary authorization of $1.196 billion over FY2027–FY2031, with about $997M in estimated outlays.
The bill doesn’t specify exact dollar amounts for the local food purchasing program, that will be determined by appropriations.
How it differs from LFPA
The exact program structure is still being defined. Likely differences from LFPA:
- More structured requirements for state coordination
- Possibly tighter rules on which producers qualify as “local”
- Possible coordination requirements with state SNAP nutrition incentive programs
Who it matters for
- Food banks and food pantries: direct grant recipients
- Small and mid-sized farmers: sales channel restoration
- Beginning farmers: entry point into wholesale markets
- Tribal nations: food sovereignty initiatives
- State departments of agriculture: coordination role