The California Department of Education (CDE) will use the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Grant to strengthen local and regional purchasing relationships between School Food Authorities (SFAs) participating in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program with local farmers/producers, with a focus on those that are designated as small business or socially disadvantaged.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is hosting a webinar to provide information regarding a proposed rule under the Packers & Stockyards Act of 1921 aimed at promoting inclusive competition and market integrity in the livestock, meats, poultry, and live poultry markets.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture in partnership with the Illinois Department of Human Services are bringing together stakeholders to create a meaningful and sustainable model to bridge locally grown and raised products of underserved farmers and ranchers to food insecure communities. This cooperative agreement is an opportunity to unite Illinoisans invested in building a resilient food system and build a collaborative network of food system support.

Today the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a recommended decision on proposed amendments to federal marketing order No.984, which regulates the handling of walnuts grown in California.

USDA is hosting this listening session to gather input on the Organic Transition Initiative, Pinpointed Organic Market Development grant program.

The New York State Education Department will sub award the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Program funds to School Food Authorities for the purchase of local unprocessed or minimally processed foods. This program will strengthen the food system for schools by helping to build a fair, competitive, and resilient local food chain and expand local and regional markets with an emphasis on purchasing from historically underserved producers and processors.