Updated with new official amendment # 169! Support Farm to Food bank Funding in TN
One more call to your TN legislators this session to support Budget amendment #169.
Two years ago the state mistakenly missed a deadline to apply for funding that could be used to allow Food banks across the state to purchase from local farms. We all spoke up and the state fixed the problem using their own money - $7.2 million in fact to reinstate this program. The TN Farm to food bank program benefits farmers and food bank clients - it’s an important way to build avenues for farms to succeed and for all people to access fresh food. It’s truly a win- win.
If you need convincing please check out our policy paper on it!
Last year, the federal government (USDA) cancelled the Farm to Food bank program (Local Food Purchasing Assistance or LFPA) that provided money to states. Tennessee administrators saw the benefit of this program and didn’t want it to end. They wanted the state to include money in the budget for this program. The Department of Agriculture asked for $2 million for this program (hardly enough $ but at least keeping the program in existence). This $2 million did not make it past the first stage of hearings and into the draft appropriations bill for 2026 (aka the budget, aka HB 2631/ SB 2690).
Therefore if we want this program to remain in existence, our only hope is that it is included in an amendment to the draft appropriations bill. Last week at Ag. Day on the Hill we asked senators to write this amendment and ensure funding for this win-win program. Almost all the lawmakers agreed that this was important and Senator Charlane Oliver submitted an amendment. It is amendment # 169
The budget process is new to me but I am told that there is some small room discussion that will happen next before this is allowed to be proposed to all of the lawmakers for a vote. However, this is all happening fast and I don’t want to miss the window for action so let’s all take a minute to speak up now in support of this program!
Please call your TN State Senator and Representative to leave a message (this weekend or Monday) about why you support a TN Farm to Food bank Program and amendment #169 which seeks to fund this program at past levels.
Here is a link to find your lawmakers.
Here’s a draft script:
“Hi my name is… and I’m a constituent of Senator… (or Representative …)”.
Include any experience you have with the program or something simple like:
“I support giving out TN Food Banks resources to purchase from local farmers so that they can help to support growing local food economies while also making sure our neighbors have healthy and fresh foods”.
“I’d like Senator…. or Representative … to support amendment 169 which adds funding for the continuation of this program to the Budget”.
Thank you!