The Cheyenne and Arapaho Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement program will expand the tribes’ food pantry and distribution centers’ services by adding more direct purchasing from local and disadvantaged farmers and producers to include meats, fresh fruits, and vegetables by picking up produce from farmers and producers and  developing a program for underserved community members to use with designated farmers and producers in their area between  distribution dates with the tribes.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced that U.S. honey first handlers and importers have approved continuing the National Honey Board research and promotion program.

In the referendum, 73.8% of first handlers and importers voting, who represented 85.5% of the volume of honey or honey products voting in the referendum, were in favor of continuing the program. Over 50% of the first handlers and importers voting and over 50% of the volume voting in the referendum were required for the program to continue.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture intends to use Local Food Purchase Assistance Program Cooperative Agreement funds to establish a program that allows communities to determine for themselves how local food can be procured and distributed to underserved individuals. While this funding is a two-year economic investment, it provides a unique opportunity to build relationships and capacity among stakeholders and the agency.