Wisconsin Local Food Purchase Assistance Program (WI LFPA)
The WI LFPA program aims to strengthen local and regional food systems, support Wisconsin farmers, and distribute fresh nutritious foods to underserved communities. Marbleseed is working with project partners Wisconsin DATCP, Wisconsin Farmers Union and the Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative to provide program development, coordinate transportation and logistics, and procure food from local producers. For more information about the program, please see the WI LFPA Website.
Marbleseed contracts with farmers and will distribute grants ranging from $5,000-$25,000 to farmers via pre-season contracts based on farmer driven prices.
A total of $2.3 million dollars is available to farmers for food purchasing 80% of farmer grant funding is designated for BIPOC, beginning, and veteran farmers.
Marbleseed Technical Assistance
Marbleseed WI LFPA Specialists Tay Fatke or Nou Thao will provide technical assistance to WI LFPA producers throughout the duration of the program including: Food safety, Supply chains, Institutional and wholesale markets, Farm and business planning, Efficiencies, Meeting contract obligations.
2024 WI LFPA Applications are now closed!
Funding decisions and contract agreements for food purchases will be sent by December 15th, 2023. Contracts will be executed and made public in mid-January. Contracted farmers will have the opportunity to attend a meeting in La Crosse, Wisconsin on February 22, 2024.
WI LFPA Events 2024
Wisconsin’s Local Food Purchase Assistance Program (WI LFPA) has announced a series of public events. These events have a goal of building connections between local food system and hunger relief network partners and providing education for farmers’ success in expanding production for supplying food banks, pantries, and community food access efforts. Below is our 2024 schedule!
Cold Staging Produce: Coolbot Coolers and Other Affordable Options
May 15 | 1 - 4 p.m. | GreenGold Garden | Wausau WI 54401
Need a way to store your vegetables and flowers but walk-in coolers seem impossible because of the price tag? Come learn about affordable alternatives that will meet your cold storage need and can be an easy Do It Yourself (DIY) project for your farm. Presentation, information, and resources will be shared by Groundswell Conservancy's Community Director Yimmuaj Yang and FairShare CSA Coalition's Aggregator Coordinator Chiang Rai Lor. There are limited spots so RSVP is required. Refreshments will be provided. This event will be held in the HMoob language but interpretation in English and Spanish is available upon request when registering for the event.
Register here.
Contact our WI LFPA Specialists with questions
tay.fatke@marbleseed.org
715-309-5918 Ext. 724
nou.thao@marbleseed.org
715-309-5918 Ext. 713