The goal of the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program is to establish cooperative agreements with state governments and Tribal governments for the purpose of purchasing food, supporting local producers, and socially disadvantaged farmers. The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) will develop a partnership with multiple agencies to meet this goal. CDSS will be sub-awarding the funds to the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), California Association of Food Banks (CAFB), and California Food Banks.

Through the Local Food Purchase Agreement, the Arkansas Department of Human Service, Division of Child Care and Early Childcare Education Commodity Distribution Unit will partner with food banks, food pantries, soup kitchens, and other distributors within the local food distribution and network to order domestic food from local and regional producers. The partnership will target socially disadvantaged farmers/producers, with the intent to distribute to underserved communities in Arkansas.

The ‘’Purchase Local Arizona” LFPA/LFPA Plus program in Arizona is implemented by the Arizona Department of Economic Security (ADES), working in collaboration with the Arizona Food Bank Network (AzFBN) and Pinnacle Prevention.

The Alaska Local Food Purchase Program (ALFPP) will provide more grant funding for purchase of locally grown and produced foods from farmers in Alaska. With new funding from the Commodity Credit Corporation, this project will not only be extended for another full year from the original American Rescue Plan Act funds, but it will allow for the purchase of so much more food from locally sourced farmers to feed the underserved community members that truly need our help.

The purpose of our project is to create a successful collaboration of distinct but critical parts of the local food system to increase supply, distribution, and demand of specialty crops grown by socially disadvantaged farmers/producers within rural, remote, or underserved communities throughout Alabama.

Below are responses to questions submitted by attendees during the webinar.

General

Q1: Could you please provide a direct link for the summary of changes document

https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/SummaryofChangestotheHarmonizedStandard.pdf

Background

The Grain Inspection Advisory Committee has had discussions on technologies in the grain industry and past recommendations around the topic of official use of technology or data driven changes in the official standard.