Costa Applauds USDA Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement with California

WASHINGTON – Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16), a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee, applauds the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS) cooperative agreement with the state of California under the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperate Agreement Program (LFPA). This agreement will provide access to new markets for local, underserved farmers and help make food more affordable for consumers across California.

"Californians are struggling with rising costs, which make it harder to put food on the dinner table and increasing demand for food assistance from our food banks," said Costa. "Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, this innovative program will tackle food insecurity by providing fresh, healthy food bought from local, underserved farmers to those going hungry. This plan helps consumers cope with food insecurity and supports our small farmers."

The LFPA program is authorized by the American Rescue Plan to maintain and improve food supply chains. Through this program, the USDA will award up to $400 million through non-competitive cooperative agreements with state and tribal governments to support local, regional, and underserved producers through the purchase of food produced within the state or within 400 miles of the delivery destination. Costa voted in favor of the American Rescue Plan.

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) will partner with the California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA), California Department of Public Health (CDPH), California Association of Food Banks (CAFB), and California Food Banks to purchase food from local, underserved farmers across California. This would benefit nearly 250,000 families and connect farmers to various federal resources.

Learn more about the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program here.

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Congressman Jim Costa is a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee and Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture.