Local farmers feeding our communities program

(a)

In general

The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a program under which the Secretary will enter into cooperative agreements (on a noncompetitive basis) with eligible entities—(1)to help support covered local producers through building and expanding economic opportunities;(2)to establish and broaden partnerships with such covered local producers and the food distribution community to ensure distribution of fresh and nutritious foods; and(3)to strengthen such entity’s local and regional food security and systems.(b)

Use of funds

An eligible entity selected to enter into a cooperative agreement under this section shall use funds received through such agreement—(1)to purchase unprocessed or minimally processed local foods (including seafood, meat, milk and dairy products, eggs, produce, and poultry) from covered producers;(2)to ensure that at least 25 percent of the total annual value of products purchased by the eligible entity comprises purchases from small-size producers, mid-size producers, beginning farmers or ranchers, or veteran farmers or ranchers;(3)to provide technical assistance supporting—(A)covered local producers, including in obtaining food safety training and certifications; and(B)efforts to grow the local agricultural value chain;(4)to distribute such local foods to organizations that have experience in food distributiondistribution, including nonprofits, to improve access to healthy and nutritious food; and(5)to build and expand economic opportunity for covered local producers.(c)

Limitation on use of funds

(1)

In general

Of the amount made available to an eligible entity through a cooperative agreement under this section, an eligible entity may use not more than 25 percent of such amount—(A)to cover administrative expenses; and(B)to provide technical assistance described in subsection (b)(3);(2)

Allocation for technical assistance

Of the amount described in paragraph (1), an eligible entity shall use not less than 50 percent to provide technical assistance described in subsection (b)(3).(d)

Technical assistance to eligible entities

The Secretary shall provide to eligible entities entering into a cooperative agreement under this section guidance, technical assistance, instruction, and monitoring throughout the life cycle of the cooperative agreement.(e)

Amount of allocation

Of the amounts made available to carry out this section for each fiscal year, the Secretary shall—(1)allocate 10 percent to Tribal governments, to be allocated using a funding formula determined by the Secretary; and(2)of the amounts remaining after making the allocation under paragraph (1), allocate 1 percent to each State (other than Tribal governments); and(3)after making the allocations under paragraphs (1) and (2), allocate the remaining amounts to each eligible entity (other than Tribal governments) by applying the formula described in section 214 of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7515).(f)

Definitions

In this section:(1)

Beginning farmer or rancher; veteran farmer or rancher

The terms beginning farmer or rancher and veteran farmer or rancher have the meanings given such terms in section 2501 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279).(2)

Covered producer

The term covered producer means a fisherman, farmer, producer, rancher, processor, or cooperative processor that is—(A)within the geographic boundaries of the eligible entity in which the food will be delivered; or(B)not more than 400 miles from the delivery destination of the food.(3)

Eligible entity

The term eligible entity means a State agency, commission, or department that is responsible for agriculture, procurement, food distribution, emergency response, or other similar activities within the State.(4)

Mid-size producer

The term mid-sized producer means an individual whose annual gross cash farm income is equal to or exceeds $350,000 and is less than $999,999.(5)

Small-size producer

The term small-sized producer means one whose annual gross cash farm income is less than $350,000.(6)

State

The term State means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, each territory or possession of the United States, and each federally recognized Indian Tribe.(7)

Unprocessed or minimally processed local foods

The term unprocessed or minimally processed local foods means only those agricultural products that retain their inherent character. Such term includes—(A)fruits and vegetables (including 100 percent juices);(B)grain products, such as pastas and rice;(C)meats (including whole carcasses, pieces thereof, or ground meat);(D)protein sources that are meat alternatives (such as beans or legumes) and fluid milk and other dairy foods (such as cheese and yogurt); and(E)foods in a wide variety of minimal processing states (such as whole, cut, or pureed) or forms (such as fresh, frozen, canned, or dried).(g)

Funding

(1)

Mandatory funding

Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to carry out this section $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter.(2)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030, to remain available until expended.