The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced it has signed a cooperative agreement with Oklahoma under the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA). Through LFPA, the Oklahoma Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry (ODAFF) seeks to purchase and distribute locally grown, produced, and processed food from underserved producers.
“USDA is excited to partner with Oklahoma 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.”
With the cooperative agreement, The Oklahoma Local Farmers Program for Underserved Populations will identify and reach out to underserved farmers and producers to provide them an opportunity to distribute food products to local underserved communities, helping to expand economic development for both the producers and the communities they serve. The agreement will establish a state-wide clearinghouse to help local farmers and producers work with distributors and food hubs to expand their business while enabling food banks to select the products and quantities of these products that they need to best serve their communities.
"The USDA Local Food Purchase Assistance program provides a unique approach to fighting food insecurity in Oklahoma while also bolstering the state's economy," said Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur. "We are excited to be a part of this new program and look forward to working with Oklahoma's farmers and ranchers to supply fresh, nutritious food to those who are in need across the state."
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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