S. 2338 establishes a new federal program that provides grants to state agencies, tribal governments, and U.S. territories to buy food directly from local farmers, ranchers, and fishers and distribute it to schools, food banks, and communities with limited access to healthy food. The program prioritizes purchases from small and mid-sized producers, beginning farmers, veterans, and underserved agricultural producers, requiring that at least 51 percent of purchases come from these priority groups. Eligible governments must buy from producers within their borders or within 400 miles of the delivery location, prioritize distribution to low-income communities, and spend funds within three years. The bill allocates $200 million annually from the Commodity Credit Corporation starting in fiscal year 2025, with funding distributed noncompetitively to states and tribes through a formula that reserves 10 percent for tribal governments and at least 1 percent for each state. This legislation aims to strengthen local food systems, support agricultural producers, and improve food security in underserved areas.
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