SPRINGFIELD, IL- The Illinois Department of Agriculture and Illinois Department of Human Services have secured United States Department of Agriculture funding that provides new opportunities for underserved farmers and communities. The Local Food Purchasing Cooperative Agreement will allow Illinois to purchase produce, proteins and fresh processed foods directly from farmers at fair market value. Food will then be distributed to communities in need, including schools, non-profits and the food bank system.
State-wide partners will convene in year one of the program to develop an implementation plan, taking into consideration the needs of underserved farmers and communities not traditionally served through food distribution networks. This planning process will also examine how culturally appropriate fresh foods can be made more accessible to food insecure communities.
Year two of the program will begin with a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the issuance of subawards for management of multiple state-wide aggregate sites. These sites will serve as collection centers for products from underserved farmers. Each awarded aggregation site will be responsible for engaging with underserved farmers, purchasing food, tracking metrics, packaging product, transporting product and ensuring equitable distribution of these products to underserved communities throughout Illinois.
“I’m grateful to the USDA for their partnership with IDHS and IDOA in creating a creative, coordinated program like the Local Food Purchasing Cooperative Agreement,” said Governor JB Pritzker.
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