Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program (Southern Region)

PIFF is the fiscal sponsor for the Southern Region LFPA program, working with Southeast Regional Cooperative partners to purchase and distribute food from socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. This region includes southeast and southwest regions.

Now Accepting Farmer & Rancher Participants

We're excited to share that Southeast Regional Cooperative is ready to kick off the Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program in the Southern Region! Thank you all for your patience and continued commitment to this important work.

The program is now accepting socially disadvantaged farmer, grower, and rancher participants and seeking food distribution partners.

If you’re interested in the LFPA program, we invite you to schedule a 1-on-1 meeting with Southern LFPA coordinators, DeAnthony Jameson and Mia Brown.

These meetings will cover fall 2024 and spring 2025 partnerships, MOUs, and onboarding for farmers, food producers, and distributors.

Thank you for your participation! We look forward to collaborating with you to make a positive impact on our local food system.

Schedule a meeting

About the LFPA

The Local Food Purchasing Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) is a USDA-funded, state-wide program that supports the purchase of foods from local, socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and distributes the food to communities underserved by the normal food distribution network.

LFPA is divided into 2 tracks:

  • Track 1: Is made up of a network of Food Banks which purchase food directly from socially disadvantaged farmers and offer it for free to underserved communities. 

  • Track 2: Addresses the same goals as above AND focuses on long-term economic expansion strategies for producers.

In Indiana, Track 2 is administered independently by regional representatives. These organizations connect with farmers, local food stakeholders and distributors, manage participant applications, and assist with ongoing economic development strategies for farmers. See who your LFPA Regional Representative is.

Learn more about the LFPA tracks

FAQ

  • In fall 2024, the southwest and southeast Regions were consolidated into one Southern LFPA Region. Southeast Regional Cooperative Partners (SERP) is currently the regional representative.

    PIFF is the fiscal sponsor for the Southern Region of LFPA Track 2. As the fiscal sponsor, PIFF is responsible for ensuring funds are transferred to SERP, who then uses the funds to pay farmers, ranchers, and cover other program costs. 

    We are also working closely with SERP on rolling-out the program and are excited to be involved with this incredible initiative! 

  • LFPA Southern Region includes:

    • Southeast region:

      • Bartholomew

      • Clark

      • Crawford

      • Dearborn

      • Decatur

      • Fayette

      • Floyd

      • Franklin

      • Harrison

      • Jackson

      • Jefferson

      • Jennings

      • Ohio

      • Ripley

      • Rush

      • Scott

      • Switzerland

      • Union

      • Washington

      • Wayne

    • Southwest region:

      • Brown

      • Clay

      • Daviess

      • Dubois

      • Gibson

      • Greene

      • Knox

      • Lawrence

      • Martin

      • Monroe

      • Orange

      • Owen

      • Parke

      • Perry

      • Pike

      • Posey

      • Spencer

      • Sullivan

      • Vanderburgh

      • Vermillion

      • Vigo

      • Warrick

  • For questions about the program:  

    • DeAnthony Jamerson and Mia Brown
      Southern Region LFPA
      Program Coordinators
      southeastregionpartners@gmail.com

    • Denise Jamerson
      Local Food Purchasing Assistance (LFPA)
      Program Manager
      djamerson@health.in.gov

    • Naima Gardner-Rice
      Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity (DNPA)
      SNAP-Ed and Nutrition Programs Director
      ngardner1@health.in.gov

    If you have questions about how PIFF is involved with LFPA, reach out to our executive director Porchea at porchea@indianafarming.org