Golden State Today

Governor Gavin Newsom has appealed to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reconsider the termination of $47 million in funding designated for California’s Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) and Local Food for Schools Program. This decision is expected to affect the state’s farmers and the broader community, particularly those dependent on food banks and school meal programs.

Since 2022, California has received over $88.5 million from the LFPA, bolstering local farming efforts, enhancing the state’s food supply, and ensuring that nutritious food reaches those who are food insecure. The sudden termination of funding, initially intended for the next year, threatens to disrupt this support.

Governor Newsom stressed the importance of the USDA's aid, stating: “California’s agriculture sector – which produces nearly half the country’s fruits and vegetables – relies on the support of the Department of Agriculture to ensure that they can get fresh, healthy foods onto families’ tables. The irrational and malicious slashing of funds will not only hurt our farmers, but also the families who need food banks and school meals to stay healthy and thrive. I implore the USDA to immediately reverse this decision.”

First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom echoed these concerns. “Farmers, families, and schoolchildren rely on the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program to nourish our communities and strengthen our local food systems. Through California Farm to School, we’ve seen firsthand how these initiatives provide fresh, nutritious meals to families while supporting local growers. Without this funding, families facing food insecurity will have fewer options, children will miss out on the meals they rely on, and farmers who have built their livelihoods around feeding our communities will face devastating losses. We urge the USDA to reconsider this decision and continue working with us to ensure a stronger, more resilient food system for all.”

California produces almost half of the nation’s fruits and vegetables and has been dealing with various challenges such as climate change and labor shortages, which affect food availability and costs. In 2024, the LFPA Program allocated over $22.3 million, enabling the California Association of Food Banks to distribute meals to the food-insecure population.

The USDA’s cessation of the LFPA25 is said to be because the “agreement no longer effectuates agency priorities,” despite USDA’s mission to promote agriculture production that nourishes Americans. This decision has been criticized for the potential harm it may cause to participating farmers and communities.

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