Arkansas Farm’s Federal Funding Frozen, Threatening Produce Distribution to Food Bank
An Arkansas farm that supplies fresh produce to the Arkansas Foodbank in Little Rock has had its federal funding frozen for a month, leaving the farm’s owners – Liz Bell and Josephine Thomas – in limbo. The farm, WSBZ Farms, earned about $20,000 a month through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program to provide food for food insecure Arkansans.
Despite being told by the LFPA director from Arkansas that the funds were released, the Arkansas Foodbank informed WSBZ Farms that the funds were not available. This situation has been attributed to a nationwide federal funding freeze ordered by the Trump administration, which is still impacting the LFPA program despite being deemed unconstitutional by federal judges.
The Arkansas Foodbank expressed hope that the temporary pause in reimbursement would be resolved soon to continue supporting local farmers and needy families. With Arkansas being one of the most food insecure states in the country, the freeze on federal funding has raised concerns about the future of produce distribution to those in need.
Bell and Thomas, both military veterans, expressed concerns about the frozen funding and its potential impact on their ability to expand and invest in their farm. The family farm, in operation for 100 years, has become a vital source of fresh produce for Central Arkansas, providing thousands of meals to hungry residents. With RFSI funding also on hold, the family is exploring alternative revenue streams, such as agriculture tourism and a farmer’s market, to make up for the lost funding if it is not restored.
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