LFFC Act could build new pathways for farmers

Legislation introduced in the House by an Illinois representative and 11 other bi-partisan colleagues would expand market opportunities for producers by building relationships between farmers and food distribution networks.

Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13) joined 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), Jim Costa (D-CA-21), Eugene Vindman (D-VA-7), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19), and Alma Adams (D-NC-12) to place the Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act (LFFC) of 2025 (H.R. 4782) before the House.

The LFFC Act would create new markets for farmers while improving community food security, says the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.

“The LFFC Act creates a pathway for the US Department of Agriculture 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,” according to NSAC. “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.”