USDA ends $1B in local food programs for schools, food banks

Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Agriculture has canceled two federal programs that provided more than $1 billion for schools and food banks to buy food from local farmers and ranchers — a move that could directly impact New Mexico families, food banks and producers, including in Las Cruces and Doña Ana County.

The Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program are being terminated, according to a report first published by Politico.com. Both programs were designed to help states strengthen local food supply chains while supporting farmers and ranchers, particularly those who are socially disadvantaged or underrepresented.

In New Mexico, LFPA funding helped launch Nourish New Mexico, an initiative connecting local farmers with food banks and pantries serving food-insecure communities. According to program data, at least 3,375 food-insecure New Mexicans and 589 socially underserved producers across the state have benefited from LFPA-supported efforts.

Food banks in southern New Mexico, including those serving Las Cruces and Doña Ana County, have been among the recipients of food purchased through LFPA partnerships. As one of the fastest-growing regions in the state, Doña Ana County continues to face high rates of poverty and food insecurity, with many families relying on food assistance programs to meet basic needs.

The USDA’s decision means that money New Mexico food banks and nonprofits were expecting to continue receiving will no longer be available, which could reduce the amount of fresh, locally grown food distributed to families in need throughout the region.

"Cutting these programs is devastating for the quarter of New Mexicans who struggle to put food on the table,” said Vasquez, a supporter of the LFPA program. “The LFPA has been a lifeline — not just for families who rely on it, but also for small farmers who depend on these partnerships. At a time when grocery prices are soaring and local producers face uncertainty, we should be investing in solutions that strengthen our food systems, not destroying them.”

New Mexico has one of the highest rates of food insecurity in the country, with roughly one in four children living in households that struggle to afford enough food, according to Feeding America. Advocates say programs like LFPA and LFS not only increased access to healthy foods for families but also created economic opportunities for smaller-scale farmers who often face barriers to larger markets.

The School Nutrition Association estimates that roughly $660 million nationwide expected to help schools and child care providers purchase local food in 2025 will be cut as a result of ending LFS. Although New Mexico has recently expanded access to free school meals through state legislation, some schools were depending on LFS funds to diversify their meal options and include more locally sourced foods.

Local school districts in Doña Ana County, including Las Cruces Public Schools, have participated in efforts to bring more locally grown produce into school cafeterias, including through LFPA and LFS-funded partnerships. Without continued support, these initiatives could face setbacks, limiting the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables for students.

LCPS could not be reached for comment on how this new directive may impact the district, as it came down during the district's spring break.

According to USDA, existing LFPA and LFPA Plus agreements that still have funding will remain active for now, but no additional funding rounds will take place. A USDA spokesperson told Politico that the programs, originally created by executive order during the Trump administration and expanded under Biden, "no longer effectuate the goals of the agency."

The cuts also come at a time when New Mexico’s small and mid-sized farmers continue to face challenges from drought, rising costs of supplies and limited market access. Advocates say removing federal support for direct purchasing programs could weaken local food systems that have been built up in recent years.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, a Democrat, criticized the decision, saying her state stood to lose $12 million in planned school district funding. She said the move signals that feeding children and supporting local farmers are no longer federal priorities.

The Biden administration had expanded both programs through the Commodity Credit Corporation, a USDA fund originally established during the New Deal to stabilize farm incomes. The programs were seen as a way to respond to supply chain disruptions and strengthen local economies during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Organ Mountain News has also reached out to Casa de Peregrinos, a Las Cruces-based food bank, to find out how the new directive may impact the organization's funding, but has not yet received a response.

More details on the cancellation are available at Politico.com.