Feeding Louisiana seeks $5 million to buy local produce and proteins for food banks

Feeding Louisiana and leaders from the five regional food banks asked the committee for a $5 million appropriation to buy Louisiana-grown produce and protein for distribution through food-bank networks.

Pat Van Berkeley (Feeding Louisiana) said the funds would go 100% to farmers and not to administrative overhead and that the program was an economic development vehicle for small-scale—and often minority—farmers. Farmers who sell through the program said they are now growing more than they can place because previous federal match programs were cut, shrinking local purchase opportunities.

Second Harvest and other food-bank leaders said the purchased items (fresh produce and protein) match the most-requested items from clients and that buying locally reduces transport time so fresh food can be distributed within 24 hours of harvest. Food-bank representatives explained the prior federal funding streams (e.g., USDA LFPA) supported local sourcing in prior years and that the proposed state appropriation would allow food banks to reestablish regular local purchasing agreements and stabilize processors and farm markets.

Committee members asked how funds would be allocated among the five regional banks; Feeding Louisiana said distribution is based on a Gold Factor formula (population, poverty and food insecurity) that sets regional caps and that reimbursements are made after documented purchases and invoices were submitted.