Article via NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food's Weekly Market Bulletin
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Earlier this year the Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food (DAMF) applied for and was awarded a USDA Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement (LFPA) to partner with the New Hampshire Food Bank (NHFB) in support of local food producers and the food insecure. The LFPA funding is being used to enhance the ‘NH Feeding NH’ project started by NHFB and its partners in 2020. This statewide initiative funds the purchase of locally grown vegetables, fruit, dairy, meat, and more for distribution to food insecure people through NHFB’s network of over 400 non-profit partner agencies.
This program is as flexible as it is impactful as it allows individual food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters and more to identify their specific community needs while building meaningful relationships with their local farms and food businesses. These new markets being forged for farmers are helping to grow and sustain their businesses.
The funding is applied in two different ways. NHFB distributes funds to individual agencies who make purchases from individual farmers, farmers’ markets, food hubs, etc. and report their purchases back through a thorough and organized record keeping system. The second way is through bulk purchases made directly by NHFB and forward contracting for products that will be offered to agencies free of charge.
Our job, at DAMF, is to carefully monitor how the funds are allocated and compile records of the overall project results. Through the first two rounds of reporting, I have been blown away by the impact ‘NH Feeding NH’ is clearly having on both the farm and food insecure communities. This year alone 139 agencies have been able to direct $228,000 into New Hampshire’s agriculture industry while providing over 77,000 pounds of produce, protein, and dairy products to those in need. In addition to the agency purchases, bulk purchases of 85,400 pounds of milk, corn, ground beef, and apples have gone directly through NHFB. In just the first two rounds 148 farms have found a new market through the program.
The diversity of products being purchased has also been exciting to see. From traditional farm stand foods like carrots, beans, and peppers to pork chops, milk, and seafood, nearly every aspect of edible agriculture is covered. Protein and dairy, in particular, seem to be highlights of the program for NH agencies. These items are in high demand and are part of a healthy diet. Providing access to these foods while supporting the farmers who produce them, here in the Granite State, is a win-win situation.
“We are thrilled to see the growth and success of our ‘NH Feeding NH’ program, now in its third year as a program of the NH Food Bank,” said Eileen Liponis, Executive Director, NHFB. “Fresh, local foods are not always readily available, and we believe everyone deserves equitable access to them. We look forward to continuing to expand our statewide support of both New Hampshire farmers and individuals and families who do not have access to the nutritious food they need.”
Over the next year NH Feeding NH will connect even more farms with community agencies to get more healthy, local food to those in need. We will continue to monitor and communicate the results. For more information on the NH Feeding NH program, visit their website here
