Family farmers share how these cuts will harm their businesses and communities

What you need to know: Governor Newsom sent a letter of appeal today to the Department of Agriculture asking for a reversal of the termination of $47 million meant to support California’s farmers who grow produce for food banks and community centers.

SACRAMENTO - Governor Gavin Newsom sent an appeal to the United States Department of Agriculture today appealing the abrupt and inexplicable termination of funding for California’s Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) Program. Since 2022, California has utilized more than $88.5 million in LFPA funding to support local farmers, strengthen the state’s food supply system, and distribute high quality nutritious food to food insecure communities and families. Despite the inevitable harm that will fall upon farmers and communities, California’s $47 million from USDA for LFPA and Local Food for Schools Program that had been awarded for next year have been completely terminated.  

“California’s agriculture sector - which produces nearly half the country’s fruits and vegetables - relies on the support of the Department of Agriculture to ensure that they can get fresh, healthy foods onto families’ tables. The irrational and malicious slashing of funds will not only hurt our farmers, but also the families who need food banks and school meals to stay healthy and thrive. I implore the USDA to immediately reverse this decision.” - Governor Gavin Newsom

“Farmers, families, and schoolchildren rely on the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program to nourish our communities and strengthen our local food systems. Through California Farm to School, we’ve seen firsthand how these initiatives provide fresh, nutritious meals to families while supporting local growers. Without this funding, families facing food insecurity will have fewer options, children will miss out on the meals they rely on, and farmers who have built their livelihoods around feeding our communities will face devastating losses. We urge the USDA to reconsider this decision and continue working with us to ensure a stronger, more resilient food system for all.” - First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom

Read the full letter HERE.

Impact on California 

California is the nation’s agricultural leader, producing nearly half of the Country’s fruits and vegetables. The local food production sector faces mounting pressures, including climate change, labor shortages, and market fluctuations, all impacting food availability and affordability. In 2024 alone, California’s LFPA Program allocated the California Association of Food Banks, CDSS’s largest LFPA partner, over $22.3 million to provide local healthy food and 18,647,546 meals to food-insecure Californians.

The sole basis for the termination of LFPA25 was that “AMS [USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service] has determined that this agreement no longer effectuates agency priorities, and that termination of the award is appropriate,” even though USDA’s mission includes “promot[ing] agriculture production that better nourishes Americans.”  This decision will cause irreparable harm to the farmers and communities that have participated in and benefitted from California’s LFPA Program. 

Testimonials 

The testimonies below highlight just a few examples of the devastating impact that the interrupted LFPA and LFPA Plus payments, and termination of the LFPA25 Program, has, and will continue to have, on California farms, including family-operated farms.