1. United States
2. N.C.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to take immediate action to reinstate funding for the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS). This program was a vital tool in supporting small, domestic farms while ensuring that schoolchildren received nutritious, locally sourced food—a win for farmers, families, and communities alike.   It is the USDA’s responsibility to build a fair, competitive, and resilient food system by prioritizing local and regional producers. Yet, the current administration’s decisions seem to favor large corporations and industrial agriculture at the expense of small farmers, public health, and food quality. We know that factory farming harms the environment, reduces food quality, and undermines local economies. Allowing funding for programs like LFS to disappear is a disservice to both farmers and the next generation. Some of my favorite farms, including Hickory Nut Gap, and local school districts like Buncombe County Schools, have directly benefited from this program. To see these initiatives slip away is a travesty—one that we will not allow to go unnoticed.   We need bold leadership to stand up for small farmers, ensure our children have access to better food, and keep building stronger, more sustainable communities through agriculture. I urge you to speak out and fight for the reinstatement of LFS funding. Your constituents are watching, and we expect you to echo these concerns in Congress.   Thank you for your time and for standing with farmers and families.