The Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) uses non-competitive cooperative agreements to provide funding for state, tribal and territorial governments to purchase foods produced within the state or within 400 miles of the delivery destination to help support local, and regional producers. The purpose of this program is to maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will host an informational webinar for eligible organizations interested in applying for the new Farm and Food Worker Relief (FFWR) Grant Program. The webinar will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 17, from 2 to 3 p.m. ET.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced in the Federal Register the reopening of the comment period on a proposal to terminate the marketing order regulating the handling of onions grown in south Texas. The reopened comment period will close on Dec. 8, 2021.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that U.S. highbush blueberry producers and importers approved continuing their national research and promotion program. Industry representatives voted in a referendum held Oct. 8 through Oct. 22, 2021, by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).

In the referendum, 84% of producers and importers voting, who represented 93% of the volume of highbush blueberries voting in the referendum, were in favor of continuing the program. Over 50% of votes and over 50% of the volume voted were required for the program to continue.