The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced it has signed a cooperative agreement with New Jersey under the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA). Through LFPA, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) seeks to purchase and distribute locally grown, produced, and processed food from underserved producers.
“USDA is excited to partner with New Jersey to promote economic opportunities for farmers and producers and to increase access to locally sourced, fresh, healthy, and nutritious food in underserved communities,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. “The Local Food Purchase Cooperative Agreement Program will improve food and agricultural supply-chain resiliency and increase local food consumption around the country.”
With the LFPA funds, NJDA will work with Community Food Bank of New Jersey (CFBNJ) to implement LFPA’s food purchasing programs and establish partnerships with farmers and ranchers within the state that best suits local needs, environmental and climate conditions, and seasonal harvests. The foods purchased through this program will be distributed in the state’s 21 counties.
USDA’s Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program provides up to $900 million through non-competitive cooperative agreements to enable state, territory and tribal governments to support local, regional and underserved producers, and maintain or improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency through the purchase of food produced within the state or within 400 miles of delivery destination. Funding for the program comes from the American Rescue Plan and the Commodity Credit Corporation.
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.
Source : usda.gov