Issue Position: Agriculture - Promoting Healthy Food and Farms

Issue Position

Across America, there is an epidemic of hunger and poor nutrition, as many families can't afford to put healthy foods on their tables. Congressman Blumenauer believes that increasing the availability of healthy and fresh foods in schools, hospitals, and underserved communities is critical to improving the overall health and food security of the United States. By growing and distributing some of these foods locally and regionally, we can create profitable markets for many small and midsized independent farmers and ranchers, help to preserve farmland, and protect the environment with reduced transportation costs and more sustainable farming practices.

Locally and regionally, food distribution works hand-in-hand with community-led efforts to reduce hunger and provide affordable foods needed for good nutrition, especially in communities underserved by retail food stores. Reduced-price meals in schools have been proven to help students achieve higher test scores, while foods stamps can help many families and vulnerable Americans bridge the gap between what they can afford and what they need.

Congressman Blumenauer has introduced the Local Food and Farm Support Act. This bill strengthens and expands existing nutrition programs that promote the availability and affordability of healthy and fresh foods, increases fruits and vegetables in school meals, removes barriers that keep local farmers from selling products into schools, and supports value-added agriculture and farmers markets. It also establishes a new program to increase the supply and availability of locally and regionally produced foods by providing innovative financing for the processing and distribution businesses that create local jobs and are best-suited to meet the needs of innovative, small and midsized farmers and ranchers.

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