ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — The USDA announced the end of two pandemic-era programs that earmarked millions of dollars for schools and food banks across North Carolina to buy locally grown fruits and vegetables.
Under the program called Local Farm Produce Assistance, food banks would get federal dollars to cover costs to buy local produce that would then be available for families as a healthy food source.
“We were devastated when we heard about the LFPA+ funding for next year being cut,” said Claire Neal, CEO of MANNA FoodBank. “We are seeing people from all walks of life who are needing that food right now.”
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Manna reports that North Carolina was expected to receive over $11 million in federal funds in 2025. MANNA received over $1 million from the USDA LFPA+ program in 2024.
Jeff Nix, a long-time apple farmer in Henderson County expects to lose the program that buys his apples for four food banks in the area.
“It takes the apple product that we have excess of,” said Nix.
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Nix also said he still supports the Trump administration’s position of slashing federal spending.
“I’m a 100% Trump fan, even though we’re having this problem right now. I see the cuts happening. The administration is being smart in a way that a farmer has to be smart in watching how their money is spent and not wasted.”
“Most people in the country right now want to see food grown in their community reach the people in that community,” said Drew Zucchino, director of non-profit Tractor Food and Farm. “We’re looking at several million dollars’ worth of purchasing from farmers to distribute to organizations like food pantries.”
Zucchino said farmers are survivors and the cuts will not stop him or the farmers from continuing to source local food pantries with local produce.
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