ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - Two programs that allowed local farmers to sell their produce to schools and food banks are now gone. The U.S. Department of Agriculture stopped $1 billion worth of funding, impacting school meal programs and child care centers.

As food costs have risen within the last few years, more families are turning to food banks and other feeding organizations to help support their families.

The programs whose funding has been cut are the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS) and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA). The funds allowed these programs to provide locally grown foods to students in lunch programs and provided small businesses and farmers with another stream of income.

The LFS Program operated within the Georgia Department of Education to bring locally grown food to nearby schools for breakfast and lunch. The LFPA worked with the Georgia Department of Agriculture to support local farmers to bring nutritious food to underserved communities.

U.S. Congressman Sanford Bishop, who represents Southwest Georgia, said he is against these funding cuts, noting, “A child can learn a lot better if he or she is not hungry.”

Since 2022, Georgia schools and food banks have benefited greatly from this federal funding.

“Purchasing local foods has significantly enriched our school community by providing fresher, healthier meal options for students,” said Colquitt County Schools nutrition staff. “It has also fostered educational opportunities, teaching students about local agriculture, nutrition and the importance of supporting local businesses.”

When asked about the budget cuts, Rep. Bishop said, “It’s incredibly unfortunate.”

He added, “When you talk about $23 million in food going to food banks and you talk about $7.5 million in food going to local school districts, it’s a great loss.”

Rep. Bishop said these cuts will have an impact on 150 farmers and 80 school districts in Georgia. He said Georgia has the fifth largest school nutrition program.

Rep. Bishop said these funding cuts will create many challenges for the state legislature and for the state’s department of education. He said he hopes the state will be able to restore the funds or at least make ends meet.

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