EAT Healthy Foods from Local Farmers Act

The "Expanding Access To Healthy Foods from Local Farmers Act" amends the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (TEFAP) to enhance the provision of nutritious food to individuals in need. It establishes a new program authorizing federal funding for states to implement projects that purchase specific agricultural products. These projects aim to distribute culturally or religiously relevant foods through emergency feeding organizations. Under this new program, states can use federal funds to buy priority agricultural products , which include a wide range of food items like fruits, vegetables, dairy, and meats. These products must be sourced from "eligible entities," defined as small businesses such as growers, processors, or food-hubs that are either underserved (e.g., women-owned, veteran-owned) or source from beginning, small, or mid-sized family farms. The bill authorizes $200,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 for these state-led initiatives, with states required to submit a plan of operation to receive funding. The primary purposes of these projects are to maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency , provide food to individuals in need, and foster stronger relationships between states, eligible entities, and emergency feeding organizations. Additionally, the bill mandates the Secretary of Agriculture to create a cross-agency working group within the USDA. This group will review how Department procurement can support diverse producers and distributors, focusing on nutrition security, access to culturally relevant foods, resilient local food systems, and rural job creation. The working group will submit annual reports to Congress.