Indigenous tribes are advocating for the inclusion of a permanent grant program in the Farm Bill, modeled after pandemic-era initiatives, to support local food purchases and preserve culturally significant foods for tribal communities.
The proposed legislation aims to provide a stable funding source for tribal and local food systems, ensuring access to culturally significant foods for Indigenous communities and supporting small-scale farmers who are vital to local economies and food security.
Tribal farmers are advocating for the inclusion of a permanent grant program in the upcoming Farm Bill to ensure continued support for local food initiatives and the preservation of Indigenous agricultural practices. Dawn and Cassius Spears, who cultivate heritage crops like white corn, succotash beans, and crookneck squash at Ashawaug Farm in Rhode Island, aim to expand their farm's reach but face financial challenges.
Historically, tribal farmers have relied on federal programs for assistance, but some, including those from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, were cut or scaled back under the Trump administration. These programs were crucial for growing and distributing culturally significant foods locally.
During the pandemic, the Biden administration established the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) and the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS). These initiatives provided direct federal funding to state and tribal governments to purchase local food from small-scale producers for distribution to food banks and schools, thereby supporting tribal members with access to traditionally relevant foods.
However, in March 2025, the USDA ended these programs, which had allocated over $1 billion. This decision has prompted calls for a more stable, long-term solution.
In response, U.S. Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Sen. Jim Justice (R-W.Va.) have introduced legislation to create a permanent grant program. This proposed program would enable state and tribal governments to purchase local foods from regional producers for distribution to hunger relief programs and schools. The House of Representatives has passed its version of the Farm Bill, which includes a similar bipartisan proposal to establish a permanent program modeled after LFPA, allowing states to connect local farmers with food distribution organizations through the USDA.
Pick the topics you care about. Get only what matters, on your cadence.