The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service has signed an agreement with the Monacan Indian Nation that will facilitate use of local food from underserved producers.
The Tribe will purchase and distribute locally grown, produced and processed food from underserved producers under the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program, according to a Dec. 6 news release.
“USDA is excited to partner with Monacan Indian Nation to promote economic opportunities for farmers and producers and to increase access to locally sourced, fresh, healthy, and nutritious food in underserved communities,” USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt said in the release. “The Local Food Purchase Cooperative Agreement Program will improve food and agricultural supply-chain resiliency and increase local food consumption around the country.”
The goal is to support local food producers while providing healthy food to Tribal communities and underserved communities, according to the release.
The Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program gives a maximum of $900 million in cooperative agreements to help governments support local, regional and underserved producers, the release said. This is done with the goal of maintaining or improving “food and agricultural supply chain resiliency” by food purchases within the state or “within 400 miles of delivery destination.” The American Rescue Plan and the Commodity Credit Corporation funds the program.
