Public Affairs
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2022 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced it has signed a cooperative agreement with the Chickasaw Nation under the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA). Through LFPA, the Chickasaw Nation seek to purchase and distribute locally grown, produced, and processed food from underserved producers.
“USDA is excited to partner with the Chickasaw Nation 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. “The Local Food Purchase Cooperative Agreement Program will improve food and agricultural supply-chain resiliency and increase local food consumption around the country.”
With the LFPA funds, the Chickasaw Nation will expand the Winter Fruit and Vegetable Benefit Program (WFVB) package to include locally grown fruits and vegetables produced by First American and other underserved farmers and ranchers. Purchased produce will be distributed among Chickasaw seniors, veterans in the Chickasaw Warrior Society and eligible disabled Chickasaw citizens.
“The Chickasaw Nation will improve our citizens’ access to locally grown, nutritious food and simultaneously support First American producers through this program, which helps fulfill our mission to enhance citizens’ lives,” Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby said.
“Food sovereignty is an outstanding example of the determination and perseverance of the Chickasaw Nation, and this program is a shining example of our government-to-government relationships, which have allowed us to collaborate and use our combined expertise to achieve results together.”
USDA’s Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program provides up to $900 million through non-competitive cooperative agreements to enable state, territory and tribal governments to support local, regional and underserved producers, and maintain or improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency through the purchase of food produced within the state or within 400 miles of delivery destination. Funding for the program comes from the American Rescue Plan and the Commodity Credit Corporation.
AMS looks forward to continuing to sign agreements under this innovative program that allows state and tribal governments to procure and distribute local and regional foods and beverages that are healthy, nutritious, and unique to their geographic area.
More information about the program is available on AMS’s Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program webpage.
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