Eat Local Foods Act

In the past year, the Community Food Bank of Grand Junction has been able to purchase over $150,000 worth of produce, eggs, dairy, and meat from local and regional producers through the USDA Local Food Purchasing Assistance grant. By March of 2025, we will spend over $300,000 on those same products from local and regional producers.

Through funding from the USDA Local Food Purchasing (LFPA) Assistance grant, the Community Food Bank has been able to address the increased need in nutrition services we’ve experienced over the last four years. These needs have not only been met through increased service at the pantry, but also through distributing produce via CFB Mobile Markets to neighbors with transportation limitations. The grant money has allowed us to provide our neighbors in need with nutritious and fresh foods from local producers, which in turn benefits our local and regional economies. 

Recently, the Expanding Access to Local Foods Act, or EAT Local Foods Act, was introduced in the Senate. The EAT Local Foods Act would make permanent funding for the LFPA Assistance program, which is so important to our operations. The bill is currently in the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, which includes Colorado state Senator Michael Bennet. 

We are hopeful that the EAT Local Foods Act will be included in the pending Farm Bill, set to be drafted and hopefully passed in 2024. We know that additional funding provided by the EAT Local Foods Act will help support small scale producers and create more equitable health food access for Mesa County residents.

If you want to make your voice heard by Colorado Senators Michael Bennett and John Hickenlooper, check out this action alert from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. The alert provides more information about The EAT Local Foods Act and provides a prewritten letter that you can send to our Senators. If you have any questions please reach out to Katelynn Demskie at volunteer@foodbankgj.org.