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Agricultural industry

Bipartisan Senate Bill Boosts Local Farmers and Expands Access to Healthy Food for Families

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Senators Jack Reed and Jim Justice introduced the Strengthening Local Food Security Act of 2025, aiming to create new market opportunities for local farmers and food businesses while providing nutritious foods to communities in need. The bill would enable the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to purchase locally grown and raised foods from small, mid-sized, and beginning farmers for distribution in school nutrition and community food assistance programs. This initiative would strengthen relationships between local producers and institutions, supporting the growth of local supply chains.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Strengthening Local Food Security Act of 2025 (S. 2338) would catalyze new market opportunities for local farmers and food businesses.
  • The bill would create a pathway for the USDA to enter into cooperative agreements with states and tribal governments to purchase locally grown and raised foods from small, mid-sized, and beginning farmers.
  • The agreements would strengthen the burgeoning relationships between local producers and institutions.
  • The bill includes support for technical assistance initiatives to support farmers in food safety planning, training, and upgrades required to scale to new commercial wholesale markets.
  • The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) applauds Senators Reed and Justice for their bipartisan effort to address local food security and economic development.
  • Karen Spangler, Director of the National Farm to School Network, an NSAC member, comments that the bill's double impact would put more healthy, local foods on students' plates while getting more dollars directly to producers.
  • Hannah Quigley, NSAC Policy Specialist, emphasizes that by localizing purchasing decisions, buyers can work with farmers based on both their existing scale as well as the needs of the community.

Statistics:

  • The USDA purchases billions of dollars of food annually for federal nutrition programs (no specific dollar amount given).
  • 80-90% of USDA food purchases are for large businesses (no specific source provided).
  • Billions of dollars were invested in local supply chains through the recent growth in local supply chains (no specific dollar amount given).

Sources:

  • National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)
  • The Strengthening Local Food Security Act of 2025 (S. 2338)
  • Senators Jack Reed and Jim Justice
  • Karen Spangler, Director of the National Farm to School Network
  • Hannah Quigley, NSAC Policy Specialist

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