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Freeze on local-food federal purchases leaves farmers and food banks owed money and cancelling orders
Summary
Minnesota farmers and food banks told the Senate committee that the federal pause on Local Food Purchase Assistance and other USDA programs has left grants unreimbursed, purchases unpaid and processing and delivery plans in limbo.
Minnesota Department of Agriculture officials and multiple speakers from the farming and food‑security communities told a Senate committee that the federal pause on grant reimbursements has interrupted farmer contracts and food‑bank purchases. "Currently, we have about 1.5 to $2,000,000 in payments to grantees that are on hold," Commissioner Tom Peterson said of the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program.
Food banks and nonprofit partners said the freeze has immediate effects on supply and local purchases. Virginia Witherspoon, executive director of Channel One Regional Food Bank (a partner of Second Harvest Heartland), told the committee…
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