We all know that food banks have their fair share of acronyms. One of the newer acronyms we frequently hear around the office is LFPA – which stands for The Local Food Purchase Agreement. But what exactly is the LFPA grant and how are we at Care and Share using this funding?

“The Local Food Purchase Agreement (LFPA) is a USDA grant given to state governments to distribute,” Karina Milvain, Grants Manager, told us. “It’s meant to strengthen the local food network by enabling the grantees to purchase nutritious food from socially disadvantaged farmers and food producers and distribute it to rural, remote, and underserved communities.”

Through the LFPA grant, we can give our rural partners in the Southwest region funds for them to spend at local food producers, and we are also able to purchase food directly from food producers in the Southeast and Southwest regions. This food then goes back to our partner agencies and direct services.

“It’s so fun to be able to afford these high nutrient local foods and know we’re supporting local producers,” said Christina Knickerbocker at La Plata Family Center. 

From April to June of this year – our first quarter of funding — Care and Share purchased and distributed 22,420 pounds of food through LFPA grant funding, and feedback has been largely positive. Farms like Podunk’s Ranch in Montezuma County can purchase essential equipment for their businesses, and partner agencies are able to provide nutritious and locally grown food to the neighbors they serve.

“We are so pleased with the quality of [Valley Roots Food Hub] products,” Susan Halkin & Cheri Melichar from TARA Food Pantry in Archuleta County, told us. “We would not be able to purchase these types of food items for our families without this grant.”