About Nourish Louisiana
Investing in Louisiana’s Feeding Network
Nourish Louisiana is a farm food purchase program funded by federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars to put fresh, locally sourced products into our food banks.
This program aims to provide economic support to Louisiana farmers and food producers and to distribute their food products back into the communities that need it most. It is intended to provide additional resources to producers to help them expand their farm operations, making them more diversified and resilient, increasing local food production and viability of small Louisiana farms.
Supporting Farmers, Families, and Local Food Systems
Through Nourish Louisiana: the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) will partner with Feeding Louisiana and five Feeding America member food banks to support local food producers.
With the help of Feeding Louisiana, millions of pounds of local food will be purchased including fresh produce, meats, seafood, and rice from local growers - focusing on farmers, ranchers, and fishers who come from socially disadvantaged backgrounds, defined by the USDA as those belonging to groups that have been subject to racial or ethnic prejudice without regard to their individual qualities. The project will prioritize BIPOC, woman, or veteran-owned agricultural enterprises. Specifically, this funding is intended to offer special support to producers who have been historically systematically discriminated against and deprived of access to these resources.
Food purchased will be provided to the five Louisiana food banks as well as their partner network of existing and new food access practitioners, which will then be distributed throughout Louisiana’s underserved communities where residents experience higher rates of food insecurity. Increased sales and technical assistance will help farm operations scale up into new market streams, increasing the availability of fresh, local produce during and after the program.
Are you a Louisiana Food Producer?
Under Section 2501 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990 (FACT Act), also known as the 1990 Farm Bill, P.L. 101-624, a socially disadvantaged group is defined as: A farmer or rancher who is a member of one or more of the following groups whose members have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities, 7 U.S.C. § 2279(e).
Non-Discrimination Statement
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.