States, growers say local food and specialty crop block grants need predictable funding and technical assistance
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Summary
State officials and growers described how cuts to local food purchase and school procurement programs and delays in Specialty Crop Block Grant RFAs hamper market development; they called for predictable grant timing, more technical assistance, and investments in aggregation and distribution.
WASHINGTON — Witnesses and state agriculture leaders told the House Agriculture Committee that local food programs, specialty crop block grants, and technical assistance are critical to connecting small and midsized specialty crop producers to institutional and regional markets, and that funding gaps and RFA delays limit their impact.
Tim Boring, director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, described state programs including Michigan’s Farm to Family and regenerative agriculture efforts that use block grant and other funding to build aggregation, distribution, and market access. "These investments have been instrumental in keeping farmers 1 step ahead of the next disease or pest threat," he said of research and block grants, and highlighted how block grant delays can disrupt growing‑season research.
Why it matters: Investments in aggregation, food hubs, farm‑to‑institution procurement and local purchasing can create consistent demand for specialty producers, help small farms scale, and increase community access to fresh produce. Witnesses said cuts to the Local Food Purchase Assistance and Local Foods for Schools programs reduced institutional demand and removed reliable outlets used by many growers.
Supporting details: Members asked for alignment of block grant RFA timing with growing seasons; witnesses said delayed RFAs (noted this year) compressed planning windows and made field research and planting harder. Several witnesses asked Congress to restore or replace lost local purchasing programs and to fund technical assistance, regional food business centers, and aggregation infrastructure.
Discussion versus action: Members asked for written program guidance and urged USDA to prioritize timely RFAs and technical assistance. There were no formal votes; witnesses asked for predictable multi‑year funding.
Ending: Lawmakers and witnesses agreed that coordinated federal and state actions—predictable block grants, technical assistance, and support for aggregation—could expand markets for specialty crop producers and improve local food access.
