The North Carolina Farms SHARE program will build on the success of the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association efforts started in 2020 as a response to COVID-19, increasing access to fresh, healthy, locally-grown food in underserved communities across our state while investing in small North Carolina businesses to cultivate a stable, thriving local food system.

The North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) Food Distribution views the LFS Grant as a perfect opportunity to assist the schools in North Carolina with providing nutritious, healthy meals for our kids while introducing and teaching them about fresh, local produce. The funds would be distributed to the schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) based on their enrollment. Schools would have the option to use these funds in our current Farm to School Program or to procure products from local farmers, vendors and businesses.

Docket Number: AMS-NOP-21-0008
Comments Due: The comment period for the notice originally published on September 2, 2022, at 87 FR 54173, is extended. Comments must be submitted on or before December 31, 2022.

Summary

The RI Department of Education (RIDE) will build upon the model developed by the RI Department of Environmental Management (DEM) for use in their recently funded Local Food Purchasing Agreement (LFPA) program to meet the following objectives:

1. Support economic opportunities and a more resilient local food system by purchasing locally and regionally produced, minimally processed or unprocessed, food, targeting purchases from socially disadvantaged farmers/producers in the amount of $560,189 (full award amount).

To contact USDA staff members regarding the Regional Food Business Centers, email RegionalFoodCenters@usda.gov.

Live Animal Requirements - AAA – Live Animal Specification (pdf)

USDA Certified Information - G-147 Specification (pdf), effective April 2022. 

Program Contact

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) proposes sub-awarding $1,600,000 to the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation (NCFF) to create a collaborative network to focus on procuring food from local, small, and socially disadvantaged farmers & producers and distributing those farm products to Nebraskans who are underserved by traditional food distribution networks. This two-year project is designed to help small and socially disadvantaged producers sustainably grow their operations by creating predictable market demand during this economically turbulent time.

The North Dakota Department of Agriculture intends to use Local Food Purchase Assistance program funding to enhance the food and agriculture supply chain resiliency in North Dakota. Grant funds will be used to purchase food from local, regional (within 400 miles), and socially disadvantaged farmers/producers for distribution targeting underserved communities. It is anticipated that the partnerships established during this program will continue beyond the conclusion of the program.

In October 2022, USDA awarded grants to 14 non-profit organizations and 1 tribal entity to provide pandemic relief to farm and food workers through October 2024. To apply for a relief payment or check the status of your application contact the organization serving your area. Below are lists of those organizations, including their contact information and the states or localities they serve. You can also find the organization serving your area by using the interactive map.