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

The federal Cooperative Agreement award, provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service under the Pandemic Relief Activities: Local Food Purchase Agreements with States, Tribes, and Local Governments program (CFDA 10.182), is intended to purchase and distribute local food with a focus on supporting socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. The $600,000 award, granted to the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe on August 15, 2024, will fund the Local Food Purchase Assistance Plus Program to procure locally produced food items for distribution in underserved communities in South Dakota. The program aims to strengthen local and regional food systems, create economic opportunities for small-scale agricultural producers, and increase food access in underserved areas.

The local food purchase assistance plus program will buy locally produced food items to be distributed in the UND