Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program

No. Food safety certifications, training, seed, or crop insurance are examples of production costs. Costs associated with food production activities, or costs associated with general purpose development or training are unallowable. In addition to food purchases, State and Tribal governments may propose direct costs for outreach, program development, program administration, food storage, and distribution expenses.

• Ensure food purchases meet requirements for LFPA program
• Food purchases must meet the LFPA definitions for local and domestic
• Expenses cannot include food safety certifications, training, seed, crop insurance, or other costs associated with production

Suppliers that partner or subcontract with State agencies or Tribal Governments under this program are required to follow their state and local regulations regarding food safety.

No.  Funding can only be used to purchase food items, such as meat, poultry, fruit, vegetables, seafood, dairy, and processed foods.

Meat Producers Only: All meat must have been processed in a USDA certified facility, with the applicable seal

Meat, fish and poultry items must be delivered frozen and individually packaged and labeled.

LFPA Plus funding may only be used for the purchase of unprocessed or minimally processed food, as well as food storage and food distribution costs directly related to the purchase of food. Food purchases must meet the definitions of domestic and local, as defined in Section 1.2.1 of the LFPA Plus RFA.

Regardless of how much poundage they produce, growers and producers of all sizes are encouraged to participate. We encourage you to partner with lead agencies and community partners with similar capacities or capacities that can handle cold storage and distribution for your amount of product.

Any producer selling meat and/or poultry to a lead agency must possess a current license with USDA Food Safety Inspection Service. Proof of license will be required prior to selling to a lead agency.

All food must be delivered at appropriate, food safe temperatures:

• Frozen food (meat, fish poultry) should be delivered frozen solid with no signs of temperature abuse including ice crystals, liquid or water marks on bottom of cases.
• Shelled eggs should be delivered at or below 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Cold foods should be delivered at or below 41 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Salad greens that are not delivered in a refrigerated truck should be kept unfrozen but cool in some form of cold storage or under an insulated blanket. Drop-Off at WCW Warehouse Location

Individual processed items must be labeled appropriately and disclose any allergen information.