MADISON, Wis. (WRN) — Wisconsin food pantries and farmers want the USDA to restore programs to help buy local produce.
The agency announced last week it was ending the Local Food Purchase Assistance and the Local Food For Schools programs. That’s part of cuts initiated by billionaire Elon Musk and President Trump.
Over 280 farms and 250 food pantries in Wisconsin took part in the LFPA program in 2023 and 2024, with $4.2 million in food distributed to food pantries. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction got $3.4 million for the school food program.
USDA officials say the programs were meant only as pandemic support and no longer serve the agency.