Reducing hunger includes LFPA.
At God’s Pantry Food Bank, we care deeply about our neighbors and our farmers. That’s why we advocate for important legislation and programs that supports a robust, healthy food system for all. One such federal initiative having a tremendous impact across several communities and transforming how we address hunger, including here in the Bluegrass State, is the LFPA program.
The Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) uses non-competitive cooperative agreements to provide funding for state, tribal, and territorial governments to purchase foods produced within the state or within 400 miles of the delivery destination. These agreements ensure the procurement and distribution of food and beverages that are nutritious, unique to their geographic area, and meet the needs of the local population. The purpose of this program is to maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency. In short, LFPA feeds, and it empowers.
The Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) has received $11,035,420 of the $1.4 billion allocated to this program since it began in FY2022. However, KDA has not yet applied for the second round of funding. This program has helped local farmers expand their reach while increasing the availability of fresh food for families facing hunger. Eligible farmers apply for funds through KDA’s grant programs, including those that support efforts to feed the nearly 265,000 food-insecure Kentuckians in our service area.
Program participants are required to sell their unprocessed or minimally processed products to food banks and other organizations reaching under-resourced communities. LFPA operates as a reimbursement program rather than direct funding. God’s Pantry Food Bank is able to pay retail market value to farmers for local ingredients used in pre-made frozen meals distributed through our Mobile Pantry Program. And as a part of the Feeding Kentucky network, LFPA allows the Food Bank to partner with even more Kentucky growers, increasing the distribution of local, fresh food to our network of pantries and meal programs. Our participation in LFPA agreements increases our neighbors’ access to nutrient-dense food, leading to better health outcomes and a more equitable food system in our Commonwealth—it’s helping us move toward a future with a nourished, thriving life for every Kentuckian.
Across the country, we’re overdue for a food system that is more nourishing, sustainable, and just for consumers and producers alike. Because LFPA has increased collaboration between government agencies, food banks, and community partners, we’re fostering a localized, coordinated approach to ending hunger and moving significantly closer to having a stronger food system for everyone.
Funding for this critical program ends on August 15, 2025.That’s why we are calling on Congress to make Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) a permanent program. Please join us in advocating with and on behalf of our farmers and neighbors experiencing food insecurity by contacting your representatives today. Together, we are asking you to contact your representatives and tell them to support legislation that would create a permanent local food purchasing program.
We are so thankful for your advocacy! Because reducing hunger needs your voice.
Please find your representatives here.
