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Regional food hub warns USDA cancellation will force rapid shift in operations
Summary
Field to Family told the Johnson County Board of Supervisors that cancellation of a second round of U.S. Department of Agriculture local-food grants will create an immediate funding gap after the nonprofit scaled up to serve schools and food-access agencies.
Field to Family executive director Michelle Pena told the Johnson County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday that the nonprofit will face a “much different reality” after the U.S. Department of Agriculture canceled a planned second round of Local Food for Schools (LFS) and Local Food Purchasing Agreement (LFPA) funding.
Pena said Field to Family scaled up operations after the USDA programs launched in 2022 and that the organization moved more than $1 million in local food over two years. ‘‘In March … we received notification from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship that the second round of LFS and LFPA have been canceled,’’ Pena said. She warned the board that the organization will need to “pivot” and seek alternative revenue, including increased sales to institutions, donations and sponsorships, to avoid losing the gains from recent growth.
Why it matters: Local schools, food pantries and producer partners relied on the USDA-funded programs, board members and presenters said. Field to Family said many program expenses — staff, warehouse space, vehicles and distribution — are fixed, and the abrupt funding change puts the expanded food‑hub infrastructure at risk.
What the nonprofit reported: Operations manager Jessica Birkberg said Field to Family worked with about 100 independent producer partners in 2024 and purchased $538,000 in local food that year, an increase from 2023. The organization said it fulfilled more than 2,000 orders in the year, served 44 schools and 25 food-access agencies via grant-supported programs, and delivered across a 23‑county service area.
Board response: Supervisors praised the hub’s growth and expressed concern about the USDA decision. One supervisor called the agency’s action “disrespectful and irresponsible” in light of prior award announcements, echoing language from Pena’s presentation.
Next steps and limitations: Pena said Field to Family is pursuing increased sales to institutional partners and fundraising to close the gap but cautioned there is no immediate replacement for the federal funding. She announced an open‑house market kickoff planned for April 24 and asked the board for continued partnership as the nonprofit evaluates options.
Quotes and attribution: All quotations in this article are drawn from the presenters listed below and are attributed to the speakers who introduced those remarks at the meeting.
Ending: Field to Family asked the county to continue its partnership while it tests commercial and philanthropic ways to replace the canceled USDA funds. The organization said it will return to the board with updates as it defines a revised operating plan.
