The EFFECTIVE Food Procurement Act directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture to prioritize purchasing food from beginning farmers, veteran farmers, socially disadvantaged farmers, small and medium-sized farms, and certified sustainable producers when procuring food for federal programs. The bill requires the USDA to purchase a sufficient variety of foods that support worker well-being, environmental sustainability, equity, and animal welfare, while establishing targets to increase such purchases by 2032 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with federal food procurement. The legislation authorizes $25 million for fiscal years 2026 through 2031 to support technical assistance and grants—up to $100,000 per applicant—to help covered producers meet food safety certification requirements needed to become USDA vendors, with funding also earmarked to reserve at least $2 million annually for direct contracts with these farmers and producers. The bill requires the USDA to submit baseline and annual reports to Congress on its progress meeting these purchasing targets and includes a five-year pilot program requiring at least 20 percent of federal food purchases to use a "best value" evaluation process that considers social and environmental factors alongside price.
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