WASHINGTON, D.C.— The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service announced on July 6, that it has signed a cooperative agreement with Washington State under the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program.

Through LFPA, the Washington State Department of Agriculture seeks to purchase and distribute locally grown, produced and processed food from underserved producers.

“USDA is excited to partner with Washington State 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 in the release. “The Local Food Purchase Cooperative Agreement Program will improve food and agricultural supply-chain resiliency and increase local food consumption around the country.”

The release states the LFPA program is authorized by the American Rescue Plan to maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency.

Through the Washington State Local Food Purchase Assistance Pilot Program, the state will spend over $3 million to purchase food directly from local and regional farmers and producers. At least 63% of the food will be procured from underserved producers and, of the 500 anticipated food distribution sites, 90% or more will serve underserved communities. About 25% of the funding will be set aside for tribes and tribal organizations.

More information about the program is available on AMS’s Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program webpage.