Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA)


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Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) Program

LFPA is a federal program that began as a pilot in 2022. Its purpose is to maintain and improve agricultural supply chain resiliency by supporting local, regional, and underrepresented producers through food purchasing. The food is then distributed through hunger relief outlets to underserved communities.
Looking for information specific to LFPA subrecipients? Check out the LFPA Agency Resource Hub here.

Background

WSDA requested funds for the LFPA pilot program to leverage public purchasing opportunities and achieve the shared goals of strengthening supply chains and fostering equitable and resilient local food systems across the state. Washington received $11,806,813 in funding for LFPA.

Washington’s plan was initially comprised of a two-prong approach to achieve the goals of LFPA: First, for the Food Assistance team to issue sub awards to hunger relief agencies, tribes, and tribal organizations to purchase from local farmers. Second, for the Director’s Office to do direct procurement with underrepresented producers and distribute food to communities experiencing food insecurity.  

In March 2025, unexpected changes to the LFPA program at the federal level caused WSDA to pivot from this two-prong approach and move forward with only the first prong. 94% of total funding for LFPA has therefore been awarded as pass-through to 31 subrecipients across Washington State.

The LFPA program has proved to be immensely beneficial to participating organizations, their partner farms, and the individuals that they feed. Read on for more specifics about the program and its impact in Washington.
 

LFPA in Washington State

Program Overview:

  • LFPA pilot program announced by USDA in December 2021.
  • ​WSDA awarded funding to 31 hunger relief organizations and tribes, beginning in July 2022.
  • ​Funding from LFPA "Round 1" is designated for purchasing and distributing locally and regionally grown foods in Washington State, including associated operational costs.
  • ​USDA announced additional funding as "LFPA Plus" in November 2022.
    • ​Funding from LFPA Plus is designated for purchasing and distributing unprocessed/minimally processed foods grown in Washington State. 
  • WSDA issued "LFPA Gap" funding to support subagencies' nonfood costs that could not be covered with LFPA Plus.
  • Year One of the program ran from 7.1.22 - 6.30.23.
  • Year Two of the program ran from 7.1.23 - 6.30.24.
  • The program is currently in Year Three (7.1.24 - 6.30.25).
    • Additional LFPA funds were distributed to some agencies to cover CSFP food shortages that occurred in the last half of 2024.
  • USDA announced additional funding for a future iteration of LFPA, LFPA 25, in October 2024. This funding was awarded in January 2025 and then terminated in March 2025.
  • WSDA was granted a No Cost Extension on current LFPA funds through December 31, 2026.
    • HROs and tribes will have until December 31, 2025 to spend their remaining funds. Any funds not spent by then will be passed to the Director’s Office for direct procurement, to be spent by December 31, 2026.
  • WSDA FA will share out program impact data for the entire program period of 7.1.22-12.31.25 in Quarter 1 of 2026.

Program Impact (7.1.22 - 6.30.24):

Participating hunger relief organizations purchased from 255 unique regional and local farms.
150 of these farms were new to the program in Year Two.
58% of farms identified as underrepresented.

The program experienced a 432% increase in spending on food from Year 1 to Year 2, showing increased program familiarity and strengthened relationships between farmers and hunger relief orgs.

Food has been distributed at 461 unique hunger relief sites across all 39 counties and to 32 tribes/tribal organizations in Washington.

Over $2.8 million has been expended on local food purchasing, with the most popular category being fresh produce.


Purchased Product Categories:

Food Category % of Total Spending
Produce 53.3%
Animal Protein + Seafood 38.1%
Dairy 5.0%
Nuts, Seeds, and Legumes 1.3%
Honey 1.2%
Grains 1.0%
Prepared Meals 0.05%


Quarterly Food Spending Year One and Year Two:

Quarter Total Spending
Jul 1 2022 - Sept 30 2022 $8,770.25
Oct 1 2022 - Dec 31 2022 $23,503.78
Jan 1 2023 - March 31 2023 $128,363.01
April 1 2023 - June 30 2023 $286,578.70
July 1 2023 - Sept 30 2023 $752,654.24
Oct 1 2023 - Dec 31 2023 $448,664.47
Jan 1 2024 - March 31 2024 $384,842.81
April 1 2024 - June 30 2024 $794,568.47
Total: $2,827,945.73

Click below to view a list of LFPA participating organizations with remaining funds as of 9.9.25. Please note that the remaining fund balance is based on what WSDA FA has paid out and does not include pending invoices submitted to WSDA FA, or participating organizations expenditures, pending expenditures, or verbal obligations.