FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Laura Zaks

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

press@sustainableagriculture.net

Tel. 347.563.6408

Release: Bipartisan Senate Bill Boosts Local Farmers and Expands Access to Healthy Food for Families

Washington, DC, July 22, 2025 – On Friday, July 18, Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Jim Justice (R-WV) introduced the Strengthening Local Food Security (SLFS) Act of 2025 (S. 2338). The SLFS Act would catalyze new market opportunities for local farmers and food businesses while providing nutritious foods to communities in need. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) applauds Senators Reed and Justice for offering a bipartisan solution that readies producers with reliable markets, allowing them to invest and expand their operations. 

“The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) purchases billions of dollars of food annually for federal nutrition programs, yet these purchases are mostly made from a small number of the largest businesses. By localizing purchasing decisions, buyers can work with farmers based on both their existing scale as well as the needs of the community. The Supporting Local Food Systems Act would create local channels that allow for small, mid-size, and beginning farmers to successfully secure contracts in federal nutrition programs,” said Hannah Quigley, NSAC Policy Specialist, in response to the bill’s introduction. 

“The recent growth in local supply chains has demonstrated real economic benefits for agricultural communities. Farmers are establishing new relationships with institutions, diversifying their wholesale farm revenue, and investing in on-farm infrastructure to meet this new demand,” Quigley added. 

The SLFS Act creates a pathway for USDA to enter into cooperative agreements with states and tribal governments to purchase locally grown and raised foods from small, mid-sized, beginning, veteran, or underserved fishers, farmers, and ranchers for distribution in school nutrition and community food assistance programs. These agreements will strengthen the burgeoning relationships between local producers and institutions. The bill also includes support for technical assistance initiatives to support farmers in food safety planning, training, and upgrades required to scale to new commercial wholesale markets. 

“The double impact of this initiative puts more healthy, local foods on students’ plates, while getting more dollars directly to producers. It’s an important step toward making sure federal child nutrition programs can be market channels that strengthen the resilience of our supply chain in each community,” commented Karen Spangler, Director of the National Farm to School Network, an NSAC member. 

Find more details in the bill text. 

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About the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is a grassroots alliance that advocates for federal policy reform supporting the long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability of agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities. Learn more: https://sustainableagriculture.net/