September 2024 F2FA COP Call

This month we’re exploring strategies for sustaining the meaningful impacts of the USDA Local Food Purchase Assistance program and our broader Farm to Food Assistance work for the long haul. Given an uncertain and shifting funding landscape, how might we leverage the new partnerships and capacity that have been built over the past few years to secure and grow marketing opportunities for social disadvantaged farmers as they strive to feed their own communities? And what strategies might we pursue to ensure the long-term impact of the LFPA investment?

The team from Carolina Farm Stewardship Association — North Carolina’s lead LFPA sub-awardee — will share how they’re diversifying funding strategies and partners to sustain and grow their FarmSHARE program, including state policy advocacy and exploring Food is Medicine sales channels.

We’ll also get an update from Hannah Quiqley with the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition on the latest LFPA advocacy efforts, hear about creative storytelling strategies underway in Oregon and learn about opportunities to contribute to LFPA advocacy in the month ahead.