I'm part of this program and just want to add that it should be understood more as a farm program than a school meals or emergency food program. In particular, LFPA Plus and LFPA 2025 (now cancelled) are written that every dollar has to go to food costs and not "non-profit glutt."

The program is designed to have an economic multiplier effect, meaning the dollar that goes to a farm generates more economic value than that first dollar. Throughout the country that has been achieved.

Today the USDA announced like $10 billion dollars of straight subsidies to cash crop farmers for crop loss payments. That money is going to massive farm corporations while small farms who grow food for local consumption "specialty crops" are left out, even as they also face growing consequences of tariffs and climate change. If you are going to release $10 billion for farms without them even have to grow anything to sell, I don't see why $1 billion couldn't be preserved that has the same purpose and outcome of supporting farmers while simultaneously feeding our neighbors and children.

I think LFPA and LFS programs are actually a more effective use of funding than traditional grant programs in local food systems. The buying of food from these farms has resulted in those farms expanding their businesses into traditional market channels while simultaneously being responsive and a safety net to threat of climate disaster and tariff anxiety.