The vast majority of Nourish Colorado’s WIC and Older Adult produce program has been funded by a Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement grant run through the Colorado Department of Human Services from the USDA for the past two seasons. With funding in jeopardy for 2025, see examples of how Nourish and partners across the state have put LFPA funds to incredible use, and the need to demand this funding to continue.
East Denver Food Hub, Denver Metro
See article in The Colorado Sun
The East Denver Food Hub, started in 2021, serves the gap connecting underserved populations to fresh food. The warehouse is currently a headquarters for three food supply businesses, and according to founders, “[The Food Hub is] what has allowed us to understand the full food system so well. So our work moves forward through the gaps that we see.” LFPA funding has had a huge impact on the Food Hub, who receives funds directly and through the purchases by food banks and shelters that received LFPA money. The Food Hub’s founders are working to create system that “addresses food insecurity and equity while also accounting for the health of “all beings” along the supply chain,”, which LFPA funding has helped start, but has a long way to go.
Care and Share Food Bank, Southern Colorado
See article in KOAA News Southern Colorado
Care and Share Food Bank is utilizing the LFPA program to deliver foods from local farmers Southern Colorado to community members through mobile markets. This system takes out the middleman and brings nutritious foods directly to the consumer with profits going directly to the farmer. See more in the video below!
Community Food Bank of Grand Junction, Western Colorado
LFPA funding helps the Community Food Bank of Grand Junction to achieve their goal: providing nutritious food to neighbors in need. By leveraging LFPA funds, the food bank is able to support local farmers and ensure that they can deliver fresh and nutritious foods without waste. The Community Food Bank sees this as a win-win situation for all involved: “local farms thrive, and community members receive high-quality produce that supports their health and well-being.” Here’s one example of how LFPA funding has made a big impact for the Community Food Bank:
“One recent example highlights the invaluable role of LFPA in our operations. Rancho Durazno, a local farm known for its produce, experienced an overstock of cherries this season. Thanks to LFPA funding, we were able to purchase these cherries and distribute them to families in our community. This not only helped Rancho Durazno manage their surplus but also provided our neighbors with fresh, delicious fruit that might otherwise have gone to waste.”
Archuleta County, Southwestern Colorado
See article in Pagosa Daily Post
Farms like Terrawalk Farms are able to use LFPA funding to bring locally grown, seasonal, organic produce shares through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) boxes for low-income older adults (age 55 and older) in Archuleta County, creating a mutually beneficial connection between consumers and their farmers.
Additional measured success since LFPA’s launch in May 2022 through June 2024
- Since the start of LFPA, sub-awardees have purchased $6,658,450 of food from Colorado farmers or neighboring regions.
- 147 (67%) of the 220 producers used are reported as socially disadvantaged.
- $5,404,091 (81%) of food purchases were from socially disadvantaged producers.
- Produce was the top type of food purchased with LFPA funds, making up $2,961,180 (44%) of budget spent. This was the most requested and needed food type in food pantries and underserved communities.
- $6,014,488 (92%) of food distributions went to reported underserved distribution sites.
- It was estimated that LFPA would distribute food to 75 sites. There are currently 716 sites distributing food through LFPA.
- Of all locations, there were expected to be 50 underserved communities. Food is currently being distributed to 550 unserved communities through LFPA.
All above data is pulled directly from the 2024 Annual Performance Report Summary of LFPA, May 2022 – June 2024, USDA Local Food Purchase Agreement (LFPA) Grant, Aug 2, 2024
What can you do to help?
We’re working with National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition to ask all partners to sign on to this letter by September 14th to urge the USDA to continue LFPA funding so there are no gaps in this high-impact program!
Thank you to Feeding Colorado for your work in advocating for these food banks and representing this work.
