Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act
H.R. 4782, the Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act, would create a USDA program that partners with State, local, and Tribal governments to boost purchases of local foods and strengthen local food systems. Through cooperative, noncompetitive agreements, eligible entities would buy unprocessed or minimally processed local foods from covered producers, support producers with technical assistance (including food safety training), and distribute these foods through nonprofits and other food-distribution partners to improve access to healthy foods. The act also sets targets to ensure that a significant share of purchases supports smaller or beginning and veteran farmers, and it allocates funding to tribal governments, states, and other eligible entities, backed by mandatory funding from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) for several years starting in 2026. The program aims to grow local economic opportunities for producers, enhance local and regional food security, and expand the local food supply chain by financing purchasing, distribution, and capacity-building activities. It includes specific governance, funding, and definitional rules to guide who can participate, what foods qualify, and how funds may be used and monitored.
Key Points
- 1Establishes the Local Farmers Feeding Our Communities Program, using noncompetitive cooperative agreements with eligible State, local, or Tribal governments to purchase local foods, support producers, and strengthen local food systems.
- 2Use of funds requires:
- 3- Purchases of unprocessed or minimally processed local foods from covered producers.
- 4- At least 25 percent of the total annual purchase value must come from small-size, mid-size, beginning, or veteran farmers.
- 5- Technical assistance for covered producers (including food safety training/certifications) and efforts to grow the local value chain.
- 6- Distribution of local foods through experienced food-distribution partners (e.g., nonprofits) to improve access to healthy foods.
- 7- Activities that build and expand economic opportunities for covered producers.
- 8Financial controls: no more than 25 percent of a cooperative agreement may be used for administrative expenses and for certain technical assistance, with at least 50 percent of that 25 percent reserved for the technical assistance described.
- 9Technical support: the Secretary must provide guidance, technical assistance, instruction, and monitoring throughout the life of each cooperative agreement.
- 10Allocation formula: 10 percent of annual funds go to Tribal governments first; after that, 1 percent goes to each State (excluding Tribes); the remaining funds are distributed to eligible entities using the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (TEFAP) formula.
- 11Definitions: clarifies terms for beginning and veteran farmers, covered producers (within the eligible area or within 400 miles of delivery), eligible entities (state agencies/departments responsible for agriculture or procurement), mid-size and small-size producers by specific income thresholds, and what qualifies as unprocessed or minimally processed foods.
- 12Funding: mandatory funding of $200 million annually from the CCC for fiscal years 2026 and onward; authorization of appropriations of $200 million per year for 2026–2030.