Purchase and distribute local food targeting purchases from socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers

The department of agriculture of puerto rico focuses its efforts on the full development of our puerto rican farmers. IT aims to ensure the island's food resilience by promoting the production of healthy and wholesome food that promotes balanced nutrition. Where our farmers are the producers PAR excellence to meet those needs. To such ends, we intend to encourage the marketing of agricultural products by acquiring the crops of our small and socially disadvantaged farmers. The department of agriculture has analyzed and selected 68 non-profit entities for the distribution of 250,000 boxes of food in one year. The department intends to establish a two-year program to acquire fresh products from our farmers, who live in geographically disadvantaged areas or cannot sell their products in traditional markets. With the acquisition of these products, food boxes will be prepared to be distributed house by house to socially disadvantaged populations, families that live in underserved areas, with difficult access or with disabilities that make IT difficult leave their homes. The food boxes will be prepared in eight marketing centers located throughout the island. The non-profit institutions will pick up the boxes at the distribution centers and deliver them door-to-door to previously identified families. With the acquisition of these products, food boxes will be prepared to be distributed house by house to socially disadvantaged populations, families that live in underserved areas, with difficult access or with disabilities that make IT difficult leave their homes. The food boxes will be prepared in eight marketing centers located throughout the island. The non-profit institutions will pick up the boxes at the distribution centers and deliver them door-to-door to previously identified families. We are expecting to benefit over 800 socially disadvantage puerto rican farmers and over 250,000 socially disadvantage families with this proposal. Quarterly performance reports will be submitted to capture the number of producers, socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, distribution sites, and underserved locations as well as funds expended for each category. Annual reports will provide percentages of new marketing opportunities and purchases distributed beyond current food distribution networks. Encouraging the farmer and make them known to the different non-profit foundations and government institutions. With the purpose that they can continue selling their products once the proposal is completed. Institutions that continue to purchase products from local farmers after the proposal ends. In fiscal year 2023, agreement was amended with local food purchase assistance plus funding to increase the budget with funds authorized by the commodity credit corporation, and to increase the duration of the period of performance. As a result of the additional funding and extended period of performance, the recipient intends to increase the amount of local produce boxes from 250,000 up to 500,000.