The eastern division of the Chickahominy Indian Tribe has signed a Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service.
According to a Nov. 22 news release, LFPA gives states, Tribes and territories the ability to help local, regional, underserved and Tribal farmers and ranchers by buying domestic local goods for their communities.
“Producers and community leaders are enthusiastic about the novel, unique approach the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program offers to meet nutrition needs locally, while supporting local and regional producers and serving nutrition assistance programs, including food banks, schools and organizations that reach underserved and tribal communities,” USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt said in the release.
The USDA will provide almost $500 million more in Commodity Credit Corporation funds for the initiative, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced in September, bringing the program's total funding to almost $900 million, the release states.
“We are excited to gain access to the resources made available through the LFPA and appreciate the opportunity granted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture,” Chickahominy Indian Tribe Eastern Division Chief Gerald 'Jerry' Stewart said in the release. “The cooperative agreement will assist Tribal families and others by supplementing food programs as well as the local economy and farming industry in a positive and meaningful way.”
