Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff today pressed the Agriculture Secretary after the Trump Administration canceled a program that helps Georgia farmers sell fresh food to local schools.
Today, in a U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies hearing, Sen. Ossoff pressed Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on the Trump Administration’s cancellation of the Local Foods for Schools Program (LFS) that helps Georgia farmers sell fresh food to local schools.
During his questioning, Sen. Ossoff cited Georgia school districts and farmers who say they rely on the program and pressed Rollins on why the Trump Administration canceled the program.
For example, Dawson County Schools Director of School Nutrition Scott Richardson told Sen. Ossoff’s office, “Over the past two years, participation in the LFS program has transformed our ability to bring healthy, fresh, and locally grown fruits and vegetables to our students. Prior to LFS, purchasing from local farmers was often cost-prohibitive due to pricing and transportation challenges. The LFS program alleviated those barriers, enabling our department to build direct partnerships with farmers in Dawson, Hall, Fannin, and Warren Counties, among others.”
Last year, Colquitt County School Nutrition Office said that “purchasing local foods significantly enriched our school community by providing fresher, healthier meal options for students,” and Crisp County School Nutrition said “Through the LFS program, we were able to establish reliable and stable local food sources.”
Parrish Akins, who owns a family farm in Nashville, told Sen. Ossoff’s office that the program “has allowed our farming operation to capture some of the profits which in the past would have gone to another member of the supply chain and has allowed us to increase our revenues.”
Click here to watch Sen. Ossoff’s line of questioning.
In 2023, Sen. Ossoff announced a $7.1 million partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and State of Georgia through the LFS program to purchase locally grown fruits and vegetables for schools across the state, helping Georgia kids access fresh produce grown by Georgia farmers.
Please find a transcript of Sen. Ossoff’s remarks and questioning below:
SEN. OSSOFF: “Madam Secretary, are you familiar with the Local Foods for Schools Program?”
SEC. ROLLINS: “Yes, sir.”
SEN. OSSOFF: “So, here’s a few quotes from my constituents.
“This is from Scott Richardson of the Dawson County School District: ‘Local Foods for Schools Program has transformed our ability to bring healthy, fresh and locally grown fruits and vegetables to our students. Prior to the LFS, purchasing from local farmers was often cost prohibitive.’
“Here’s a quote from Parrish Akins, they own a family farm, he owns a family farm in Nashville, Georgia. Mr. Akins said this program, ‘has allowed our farming operation to capture some of the profits, which in the past would have gone to another member of the supply chain, has allowed us to increase our revenues.’
“Here’s Colquitt County School Nutrition Office, ‘purchasing local foods has significantly enriched our school community by providing fresher, healthier meal options for students.’
“Here’s Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School Nutrition, ‘we bought some Georgia shrimp from a guy who’s been in the shrimping industry since he was a teenager in Brunswick.’
“Crisp County School Nutrition, ‘through the [Local Food for Schools] Program, ‘we were able to establish reliable and stable local food sources.’
“This is a program, of course, that helps Georgia farmers sell food to Georgia schools. Why did you cancel the program?”
SEC. ROLLINS: “Well, let’s talk about Georgia for a second. The local food…”
SEN. OSSOFF: “I have, I have 50 seconds left.”
SEC. ROLLINS: “Well, that’s a big question. You’ve got to give me a little bit more time.”
SEN. OSSOFF: “Take your time, but I want to know why you canceled the program.”
SEC. ROLLINS: “Well, we canceled the program. It was a COVID-era program, first of all. Second of all, the money wasn’t being spent. In the current tranche, your state has $2 million of $7 million left in the account. You’re asking for contract extensions cause you can’t spend the money quickly enough. The food for the FPA, the LPA, we’ve got $10 million of $20 million left. So, you’ve got money in the bank.”
SEN. OSSOFF: “Why, rather than tailor the program did you cancel it?”
SEC. ROLLINS: “It’s not a good use of taxpayer funds when you’ve got taxpayer dollars…”
SEN. OSSOFF: “Well, my constituents believe that it is.”
SEC. ROLLINS: “Well, I would love to talk to your constituents. I wonder if they know that the State of Georgia has not moved that money out.”
SEN. OSSOFF: “Will you please provide to the committee an economic justification for the outright cancelation of that program?”
SEC. ROLLINS: “An economic justification for the outright cancelation of the COVID-era program that was due to end. Yes.”
SEN. OSSOFF: “Of the Local Food for Schools Program that my constituents enjoy and rely on?”
SEC. ROLLINS: “Yes, we will be happy to do this.”
SEN. OSSOFF: “Thank you, Madam Secretary.”
SEC. ROLLINS: “Thank you.”
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