Other Ag News: Release: Bipartisan House Bill Connects Local Farmers to Food Insecure Communities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Laura Zaks

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

press@sustainableagriculture.net

Tel. 347.563.6408

Release: Bipartisan House Bill Connects Local Farmers to Food Insecure Communities

Washington, DC, July 30, 2025 – On Tuesday, July 29, Representatives Robert Bresnahan (R-PA-8), David Valadao (R-CA-22), Chellie Pingree (D-ME-1), Josh Riley (D-NY-19), Tony Wied (R-WI-8), Dan Newhouse (R-WA-4), Zachary Nunn (R-IA-3), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13), Jim Costa (D-CA-21), Eugene Vindman (D-VA-7), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19), and Alma Adams (D-NC-12) introduced the Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act (LFFC) of 2025 (H.R. 4782). The LFFC Act would establish and expand relationships between local producers and food distribution networks that create new market opportunities for farmers and improve community food security. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) applauds House champions for their practical approach to addressing local food insecurity. This bill would provide critical access to fresh, local foods while supporting a wide range of family farmers. 

“The introduction of the Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act demonstrates clear bipartisan, bicameral support for investing in local and regional supply chains nationwide. 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,” commented Hannah Quigley, Policy Specialist with NSAC.  

The LFFC Act creates a pathway for the US 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. These agreements will offer consistent purchasing opportunities for evolving local food distribution networks. It offers additional support for producers that may require technical assistance in food safety planning, training, and upgrades required to scale to new commercial wholesale markets. 

“Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) applauds the introduction of the Local Farmers Feeding Our Communities Act and much-needed investments in California’s family-scale farmers. Access to wholesale and institutional markets is key to strong regional supply chains, and the local food purchasing model has proven successful in California since 2023. We’ve supported over 700 farms and delivered over 25 million pounds of local, nutritious food back to hungry families through our partnership with food banks and hunger-relief organizations. This new legislation would allow even more farmers to serve their communities,” said Paul Towers, Executive Director of CAFF, an NSAC member. 

“Permanently funding a local food purchasing program through the Local Farmers Feeding Our Communities Act helps build a more resilient food system. This program strengthens local economies by creating stable markets for regional producers, while ensuring that nutritious food reaches families in need. It’s a commonsense investment, and one that will bring critical revenue to Pennsylvania’s vital farm businesses,” said Hannah Smith-Brubaker, Executive Director at Pasa Sustainable Agriculture, an NSAC member.

Find more details about the Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act in the House bill text and the Strengthening Local Food Security Act in NSAC’s press release. 

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About the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is a grassroots alliance that advocates for federal policy reform supporting the long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability of agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities. Learn more: https://sustainableagriculture.net/

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