The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) plans to use Local Food Purchase Agreement (LFPA) and LFPA Plus funds to support a program that allows communities to determine for themselves how local food can be procured and distributed to underserved individuals. The addition of LFPA Plus funding extends the initial proposed reach and timeline for the program, significantly increasing the economic investment for the state and bolstering the ability to build relationships and capacity among community members and the agency. The LFPA Plus funds would be made available through September 15, 2025 and will either increase award amounts or increase the overall number of awardees for the program.
Based on initial input with members of the MDA’s Emerging Farmers Working Group (EFWG) and public listening sessions in the spring and winter of 2022, the MDA issued a call for community procurement and distribution project proposals in the spring of 2023. These proposals are expected to encompass a wide range of models for local food procurement and distribution, knowing that there is no one-size-fitsall model that can effectively serve the whole state. Procurement and distribution, originally set to take place during 2023 and 2024, are proposed to extend into 2025 with LFPA Plus funding.
Assessment of the public engagement processes used throughout this program will support the continued integration of stakeholder feedback into agency initiatives and drive how the agency supports more resilient local and regional food systems in Minnesota in collaboration with stakeholders.