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March 20, 2025 - FRESNO, Calif. – On Tuesday, Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21), a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee held a virtual press conference with San Joaquin Valley leaders to highlight the negative impact of the Trump Administration’s decision to slash over $1 billion to local food purchase programs that benefit schools and food banks.
Related: California U.S. Senator Adam Schiff Leads Senate Democrats in ‘Demanding’ USDA Reverse $1 Billion in Canceled Local Food Purchases for Schools, Farmers
Congressman Costa was joined by local leaders including Dr. Michele Cantwell-Copher, Fresno County Superintendent of Schools; Nikki Henry, Fresno Unified School District (FUSD); Natalie Caples, Central California Food Bank; Paul Towers, Community Alliance with Family Farms (CAFF); and Bryce Loewen, Blossom Bluff Orchards in Parlier, CA.
WATCH the Video Recording HERE.
BACKGROUND
The Trump Administration slashed over $1 billion from the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) and the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS); two vital programs aimed at addressing food insecurity through local farm-to-table partnerships.
- Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) Cooperative Agreement Program works with states to set up partnerships to use federal dollars to purchase food from local farmers and producers to supply food banks.
- Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS) Program provided federal funding to states, tribes, and territories to purchase healthy, unprocessed foods from local farmers to serve as schools and childcare centers.
In California, these programs supported 533 small farmers who, in turn, produced food for 55 food banks and other community food partners. Of the more than 500 small farmers, about 100 were from the San Joaquin Valley. Nationwide, the programs supported more than 8,000 producers as of December 2024.
Both programs have benefitted farmers, producers, and consumers by providing federal funding for purchases through all 50 states, four territories, and 84 tribal governments. For example, Fresno Unified School District (FUSD) received $492,746 during the 2022-2023 school year to buy local agricultural products.
Source: Congressman Jim Costa
