Arizona LFPA Plus Executive Summary

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. This includes: (1) engaging local producers through direct market outlets and focusing on distribution among low-income individuals within local municipalities; (2) engaging local producers through regional collaboration efforts that scale regional innovations to increase local food access in underserved communities and, (3) engaging local producers through expansion of the Friends of the Farm efforts, which is a farm-to-foodbank program offering institutional purchasing and distribution power. The benefits of the tiered approach for producers offers options for local producers to engage and benefit from LFPA/LFPA Plus at a point of entry that feels realistic and scalable. The methodology for the distribution of the local foods to underserved communities offers distribution occurring at: (1) existing direct market sites that are already serving low-income families through other nutrition assistance programs, such as through the WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) and Double Up Food Bucks program for individuals participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); (2) offering distribution through regional collaboration channels, such as through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs and fruit and veggie box distributions at low-income housing and health sites; and, (3) through TEFAP contracted food banks and food pantries already serving food insecure individuals. Activities are implemented through a three-year project period that aims to impact local food purchasing in all 15 of Arizona’s counties.