SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - Governor JB Pritzker announced a new partnership with the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) and the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS). The program, called the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement (LFPA) allows the state to purchase food from socially disadvantaged farmers using funds from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
"The problem that we're working to solve is that nearly 3.3 million Illinoisans live in a food desert, leaving families with few options when it comes to putting food on the table," said Pritzker. "We can and must do better in our state, especially for our rural communities, because food access is fundamental to healthy and prosperous communities and families."
The state received 28.8 million dollars from USDA to purchase local foods. All of that food will then be given to nonprofits, foodbanks, and farming collaboratives, to distribute to the community for free. The goal is to help the supply chain in the state from both the production and distribution ends.
"It identifies new opportunities for socially disadvantaged farmers and lowers the point of entry into the agriculture industry," said Jerry Costello, the Director of IDOA. "Those same opportunities empower food banks, schools, churches, and other nonprofits to distribute fresh local food where it is needed."
The program supports several different communities with low-income populations. In central Illinois, Northeast Community Fund, Eastern Illinois Foodbank, and Central Illinois Foodbank will all be receiving the fresh produce purchased by the state.
"Food Insecurity is a reality for... about one million people in Illinois," said Dulce M. Quintero, IDHS Secretary Designate. "This disproportionately impacts communities of color, children, older adults, people with disabilities and people experiencing homelessness are also hit the hardest."
Producers and non-profits interested in participating in the program can learn more at https://extension.illinois.edu/food/illinois-equitable-access-towards-sustainable-systems-il-eats-funded-lfpa. Eligible products include fruits, vegetables, meat proteins, eggs, dairy products, grains, and other minimally processed items. A complete list is available at https://extension.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/2023-06/lfpa_allowable_foods_list.pdf.
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