The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service signed a cooperative agreement with the Pascua Yaqui Tribe through the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program.
The funds will increase the purchasing of nutritious local foods from underserved producers, according to a Jan. 12 USDA news release.
“USDA is excited to partner with Pascua Yaqui Tribe 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.”
Moffit said the USDA was excited to increase access to fresh, healthy, nutritious and locally sourced food in underserved communities, the release reported. Increased local food consumption and improved agricultural supply-chain resiliency will result from the Local Food Purchase Coop, she said.
The USDA uses LFPA funds to help the Tribe generate and enhance economic opportunities for historically underserved farmers and food producers. It seeks to build more resilient and equitable local economies across the nation, according to the release. The program will also help increase the current number of healthy meals distributed to low-income families.
