Last week, the USDA cut two major federal programs that were previously spending more than $1 billion each year to support schools and food banks, purchasing goods like food and beverages from local farms and ranches. $660 million of that cut applies to schools all across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and other states in the east coast.
The decision happened as a result of the Department of Government Efficiency, in the interest of financially reducing government waste.
This will highly affect the local farms of Danvers and the surrounding towns, such as Connors Farm, Hadley, Chicopee, and Belchertown.
The USDA gave specific reasoning through an email written by a spokesperson to CBS stating, “Unlike the Biden Administration, which funneled billions in [Commodity Credit Corporation] funds into short-term programs with no plan for longevity, USDA is prioritizing stable, proven solutions that deliver lasting impact.”
This unexpected turn of events left schools and local programs struggling to adjust. This big change highly affected programs such as, Local Food for Schools (LFS), and the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA). This change also left state officials in a state of concern regarding the long term future of food sourcing for schools.
