For Immediate Release: 10/01/24
Contact: Wesley Story
wstory@feedingtexas.org
BREAKING: USDA Announces $1 Billion in New Investments in Hunger Relief and Support for Local Food Systems
The investments come at a critical time for Texans experiencing food insecurity.
TEXAS – Today, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced $1 billion in new funding for emergency food assistance through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). USDA will provide $500 million for additional food purchases to be distributed through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), along with $500 million for the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA).
Last month, USDA released its annual study measuring food security in the U.S. The report shows that Texas has the second-highest rate of food insecurity at 16.9%. This is more than 4.5% higher than the U.S. average and a 1.4% increase compared to last year’s food insecurity rate. According to the report, overall food insecurity also increased across the nation from 12.8% in 2022 to 13.5% in 2023.
“These investments come at a critical time for food banks and Texas families, as more than 1 in 6 households experience food insecurity across our state,” said Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding Texas, the state association of food banks. “The Feeding Texas network applauds USDA’s investment in these key hunger-fighting programs. TEFAP is the cornerstone of emergency food assistance, accounting for over 20% of the Texas food bank network’s food supply. The LFPA program has allowed Texas food banks to purchase food they would not normally be able to afford and has expanded economic opportunities for local farmers and producers in regions across the state.”
Feeding Texas recently released a video showcasing the impact of the LFPA program, a USDA program that aims to support socially disadvantaged farmers and producers in delivering food to underserved communities. The video highlights three partnerships between food banks and the local producers they are able to work with due to program funding:
- Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley and Terra Preta Farm, a family-owned and operated farm in Edinburg that grows organic produce.
- Brazos Valley Food Bank and Aquatic Greens Farm, a hydroponic farm in Bryan that employs adults with disabilities to provide fresh, organically grown produce.
- Houston Food Bank and Ratcliff Premium Meats, a Black-owned, woman-owned ranching operation in East Texas that offers grass-fed, sustainably raised beef.
Watch the full video here: The LFPA Program’s Impact on Food Banks and Local Producers in Texas
The LFPA program launched in December 2021 as one of USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service’s (AMS) initiatives to transform the food system and build resilient regional supply chains. In Texas, the LFPA program is administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA).
“It has been a pleasure working with TDA on this program and witnessing its impact on local farmers and ranchers in our communities,” Cole said. “The LFPA program creates economic opportunities for producers, scales regional supply chains, and delivers healthy food to those in need — its value is clear. It’s a win-win-win for local producers, food banks, and our food insecure neighbors who take home high quality, nutritious food grown in their own communities.”
Throughout the video, the producers share their personal stories about how LFPA has enabled them to grow their operations and build generational wealth.
- “We’re very grateful for this program. It’s really helped us these last two years to build up the finances to pay off this land.” — Juan Raygoza, Owner of Terra Preta Farm
- “It is important that people have access to fresh produce. They deserve protein, they deserve dairy, milk. Everyone deserves to have that dignity to choose the products that they want. We need to keep this program going. Our people deserve it.” — Libby Saenz, CEO of the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley
- “My hope for the future is that it (the LFPA program) would continue. It’s definitely empowered us as farmers, as workers. I think it empowers the community because it gets to the people that really do need the food.” — Sharon Wells, owner and CEO of Aquatic Greens Farm
- “The LFPA funding is very important. It’s been a wonderful tool for us to build relationships in our community. Vendors become donors and donors become family.” — Ebony Knight, Operations Director at Brazos Valley Food Bank
- “My hope for the future for this program is that it can expand beyond me and that there’ll be more success stories like mine.” — Kimberly Ratcliff, CEO of Ratcliff Premium Meats
- “I really hope that our leaders in this country are able to see the benefit of this program. We’re able to support our local food system, we’re able to support our community.” — Joseph Williams, Procurement Manager at the Houston Food Bank
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Feeding Texas is a network of 20 food banks and leads a unified effort for a hunger-free Texas. Learn more and find your local food bank at www.feedingtexas.org.