LFPA: Food pantries & fresh produce

Very few things make us happier at Tapestry Farms than when people with limited financial resources are able to easily access fresh, locally grown produce that they love to eat - for free.

And, when we started Tapestry Farms six years ago, we hoped for a day when we could grow food specifically for people with limited resources, and be compensated for our produce in order to support the work we do with refugees.

The day has arrived.

We are over-the-moon pleased to announce that this growing season, nearly all of the produce we grow in Davenport, Rock Island, and Bettendorf will be delivered directly to food pantries that serve lots of people, including immigrants and refugees.

The Local Food Purchasing Agreement is a new federal initiative to increase access to local food and improve supply chain resiliency. The effort provides funding to food banks and food hubs to purchase fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs, honey, and other items from local growers. The food is then provided to pantries for free.

We are one of the farm operations in the Quad Cities to be a part of the effort.

In Iowa, the program was launched in September 2022 and has achieved early success in purchasing high-quality food from local farmers and producers at a fair price and distributing it to underserved communities  throughout the state. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Local Food Purchase Assistance program as part of the "Build Back Better" initiative authorized by the American Rescue Plan, which was awarded to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. The program is being managed in partnership with Iowa Valley Resource Conservation and Development.

For Iowa, the award is $5.67 million over three years. Illinois will also participate in the initiative.

The Iowa program is expected to purchase from at least 300 Iowa farmers and producers with a tiered equitable purchasing standards with an aim reach of 2,000 food distribution sites through partnerships with 16 distributors, including food hubs, food banks, and the Meskwaki Nation who are managing aggregation, distribution, and local strategies to make the program impactful across Iowa. The program emphasizes a decentralized approach, allowing local experts to meet community needs through individual implementation plans designed by distribution partners.

Illinois is working to get it’s program up and going - we look forward to taking part in it as well.