H.R. 4782: Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act

H.R. 4782 would create a new USDA program that buys local food through states and Tribal governments, backed by $200 million a year in mandatory funding.

The money would go to state, local, and Tribal governments through noncompetitive agreements. They would use it to buy unprocessed or minimally processed local foods — including produce, meat, seafood, eggs, milk, and dairy — and move that food through organizations with distribution experience, including nonprofits.

The bill does not leave the producer mix to chance: at least 25% of annual purchases must come from small-size, mid-size, beginning, or veteran producers. For farms, that means a protected share of demand instead of competing entirely against the largest suppliers. The bill defines small-size producers as under $350,000 in annual gross cash farm income and mid-size producers as $350,000 to under $999,999.

The definition of local is broad enough to work in rural areas. A producer can qualify if they are inside the government's geographic area or within 400 miles of where the food will be delivered.

The bill also limits how much can be absorbed by administration. No more than 25% of funds can go to administration and technical assistance combined, and at least half of that amount must be spent on technical assistance such as food safety training and certifications.

For Tribal governments, H.R. 4782 guarantees a dedicated 10% share of annual funding before the rest is split among states under a federal formula. That makes Tribal participation part of the structure, not an afterthought.