BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Alabama is set to lose $16.1 million in federal funding for programs that connected local farmers with schools and food banks, following the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s decision to end two key initiatives.
The programs, the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) and Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement (LFS), were launched in 2021 under the American Rescue Plan Act. They aimed to address food insecurity by purchasing fresh produce directly from farmers and distributing it to underserved communities. Since their inception, the initiatives have provided $14.5 million in grants to about 60 Alabama farmers and delivered over a million pounds of fresh food across the state.
This year’s planned funding of $16.1 million was expected to benefit 80 farmers and expand access to fresh fruits and vegetables in schools and food banks. The programs prioritized socially disadvantaged farmers and targeted school districts where at least 50% of students qualify for free or reduced meals.
Rick Pate, Alabama’s agriculture commissioner, previously highlighted the programs’ dual benefits: supporting local farmers while ensuring children and families had access to nutritious food. However, USDA officials recently deemed the programs “nonessential,” ending them as part of broader cuts exceeding $1 billion nationwide.
The loss has left farmers scrambling to find alternative markets for crops already planted and food banks uncertain about how to replace the fresh produce they’ve relied on. Advocates say the cuts will disproportionately impact rural areas and low-income communities that have benefited from these partnerships.
State leaders are now exploring ways to sustain similar initiatives, but without federal support, Alabama’s farmers and underserved families face an uncertain future.