The Narragansett Indian Tribe is receiving federal assistance to buy and distribute locally grown and processed food to support local, underserved farmers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported.
The Tribe entered into a collaborative agreement with the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) under the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA), the agency reported in April.
"With the LFPA funds, the tribe will support local underserved farmers and producers who will be distributing fresh local foods to the Narragansett Tribal Community," the news release states. "This program will nurture current and new networks of local farmers and food producers focusing on maintaining services to underserved tribal communities."
The LFPA administers up to $900 million in funding through non-competitive agreements with state, territory and tribal governments to support underserved producers, maintain or improve food quality, and strengthen supply chains by purchasing food grown and produced within 400 miles of its destination. Funding for the LFPA is provided by the American Rescue Plan and the Commodity Credit Corporation, according to the news release.
The cooperative agreements support the purchase and distribution of regional and local foods and beverages "that are healthy, nutritious, unique to their geographic areas and that meet the needs of the population," the LFPA webpage states. The products will support community feeding programs such as food banks, schools and organizations that aid underserved communities, according to the LFPA webpage.
"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," the agency states in the news release.
Jenny Lester Moffitt, USDA under secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, said in the release that the agency is "excited" to work with the tribe "to promote economic opportunities for farmers and producers and to increase access to locally sourced, fresh, healthy, and nutritious food in underserved communities."
“The Local Food Purchase Cooperative Agreement Program will improve food and agricultural supply-chain resiliency and increase local food consumption around the country," Moffitt said.
