USDA Announces Its Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement with Nebraska

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5, 2022 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced it has signed a cooperative agreement with Nebraska under the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA). Through LFPA, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) seeks to purchase and distribute locally grown, produced, and processed food from underserved producers.

"USDA is excited to partner with Nebraska to promote economic opportunities for farmers and producers and to increase access to locally sourced, fresh, healthy, and nutritious food in underserved communities," said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. "The Local Food Purchase Cooperative Agreement Program will improve food and agricultural supply-chain resiliency and increase local food consumption around the country."

Through the LFPA program, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services will purchase food from local, small, and underserved farmers and producers and distribute it to underserved communities.

The LFPA program is authorized by the American Rescue Plan to maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency. Through this program, USDA will award up to $400 million through non-competitive cooperative agreements with state and tribal governments to support local, regional, and underserved producers through the purchase of food produced within the state or within 400 miles of delivery destination.

AMS looks forward to continuing to sign agreements under this innovative program that allows state and tribal governments to procure and distribute local and regional foods and beverages that are healthy, nutritious, and unique to their geographic area.

More information about the program is available on AMS's Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program webpage.

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