Legislation introduced: LFFC Act fights food insecurity on local level
On July 29, the Local Farmers Feeding Our Communities (LFFC) Act of 2025 was introduced to the House Agriculture Committee.
The bipartisan bill aims to bolster agricultural growth, fight food waste and strengthen food security at the local and regional levels by connecting local producers with communities in need, and it has garnered support from several legislators, producers and agricultural groups.
According to a summary provided by the National Sustainable Agriculture Committee (NSAC), the LFFC Act creates a pathway for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to enter into cooperative agreements with states and Tribal governments to purchase unprocessed or minimally-processed local food from small, mid-sized, beginning or Veteran fishers, farmers and ranchers to distribute to organizations.
Shortly after the LFFC Act’s introduction on Aug. 1, USDA issued a press release announcing its intent to purchase up to $230 million in fresh seafood, fruits and vegetables from American farmers and producers to be distributed to food banks and nutrition assistance programs across the country.
The announcement has been received positively as a remedial step in repairing issues caused by recent USDA funding cuts to Local Food Purchase Assistance Programs (LFPA) and Local Food for Schools programs.
“USDA is proud to play a role in not only connecting smaller, local farmers to families but doing its part to Make America Healthy Again,” says U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. “This is yet another action by President Donald Trump to improve the livelihoods of the American people, ensuring American agriculture will be strong, secure and resilient for generations to come.”
Legislative provisions
The bipartisan LFFC Act was introduced by 12 legislators representing 10 different states.
The LFFC Act was spearheaded by Reps. Robert Bresnahan (R-PA), David Valadao (R-CA), Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Josh Riley (D-NY), with additional support from cosponsors Tony Wied (R-WI), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Zachary Nunn (R-IA), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Jim Costa (D-CA), Eugene Vindman (D-VA), Alma Adams (D-NC) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA).
According to the bill’s official text, the act would allow states, through USDA, to establish cooperative agreements connecting producers with local food distribution organizations to increase access to healthy, fresh and minimally-processed foods like seafood, meat, milk, cheese, eggs, fruit and poultry.
The products would then be distributed to community food assistance programs such as shelters, schools and food banks. Per the bill’s text, producers must be located within 400 miles of the delivery destination of the food.
The proposed legislation also mandates at least 25 percent of the total annual value of products purchased through the agreement come from small-sized and mid-sized producers, beginning farmers and ranchers and Veteran farmers and ranchers.
These agreements would support local producers and local food security by expanding economic opportunities and ensuring the distribution of fresh and nutritious foods.
The bill aims to help strengthen local food systems, support agricultural growth and make fresh food more available to people in need while assisting producers in expanding their businesses.
Support and next steps
The legislation has garnered immense support across the American agricultural sector. Several have called the LFFC Act a commonsense solution to food insecurity, praising its pledge to connect local farmers to local communities.
“It doesn’t get more commonsense than fighting hunger by supporting local farmers,” says Riley. “This is about putting food on the tables of people who need it most and investing directly in the family farmers who power our rural communities.”
Other supporters highlight the proposed legislation as a remedial step in addressing recent USDA funding cuts to food banks and food assistance programs.
“When Trump’s USDA abruptly ended the LFPA and Local Food for Schools programs, it pulled the rug out from under farmers, food banks and schools across the country,” says Pingree. “These were proven tools for strengthening local food supply chains, supporting small producers and getting healthy, locally-grown food to hungry families.”
“Our bipartisan LFFC Act restores and improves on this successful model,” Pingree continues. “It’s a practical, community-driven solution that invests in our nation’s farmers, builds regional resilience and fights hunger.”
The LFFC Act has also been endorsed by several agricultural groups, including Feeding America, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, the National Farmers Union and the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC).
In a July 30 press release, the NSAC applauded the legislation’s practical approach to addressing local food insecurity, calling it a method of providing critical access to fresh local foods while supporting a wide range of family farmers.
“The introduction of the LFFC Act demonstrates clear bipartisan, bicameral support for investing in local and regional supply chains nationwide,” says NSAC Policy Specialist Hannah Quigley. “Allowing states and Tribes to make food purchases at the local level simply makes sense – it is efficient, keeps food dollars local and families get fresh food they actually want.”
While widespread support is a good sign, the fate of the legislation is not yet final. The LFFC Act currently awaits further debate.
Grace Skavdahl is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
