Michigan Local Food Purchase Assistance Program - Impact Information Sheets
DOWNLOADApril 23, 2026 - Jamie Rahrig, May Tsupros
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EmailFrom October 2022 – December 2026, the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) coordinates the Michigan Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program to maintain and improve resiliency in the food and farm supply chain. Targeted investments in local food procurement programs like the LFPA produce measured impacts for farmers and communities.
“The LFPA program has had a transformational impact on the community. The program has encouraged our smaller farmers and specialty crop growers to collaborate more with one another. Area producers are meeting together to network and learn and are realizing that opportunities exist for increased sales and growth by working together to share information and fulfill larger orders. The market created by the LFPA funds gives growers the support they need to see value in scaling their operations.” Michigan LFPA distribution partner
To understand the impact of this program, Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems and JFM Consulting Group completed an evaluation study. Farmers surveyed reported an 87% increase in food produced and 96% increase in local food distribution opportunities. In interviews, farmers supplying food to the program stated they improved their operations, expanded market opportunities, and increased statewide distribution of healthy, nutritious foods. The program improved challenges with transportation, storage, and labor as well as rising production costs.
Through the duration of the program:
- $21.6 million was awarded to purchase locally grown food from Michigan Farmers
- 540+ Michigan farmers supplied produce
- 83 counties in Michigan participated (out of 83)
This program was made possible through working with seven food distribution partners: Eastern Market, Flint Fresh, Food Bank Council of Michigan, Kalamazoo Valley Community College/ValleyHUB, Mid Michigan Community Action, Thumb Food Policy Council, and West Michigan Food Processing Association.
Additional information about Michigan LFPA can be found by downloading the Michigan LFPA Program Impact Information Sheets below or through the Michigan Department of Education.
- Michigan Local Food Purchase Assistance Program Impact
- Lessons Learned from the Michigan Local Food Purchase Assistance Program
- Maintaining Momentum for producing, selling, and distributing local food through the Michigan Local Food Purchase Assistance program
For more information about the program’s evaluation, contact Jamie Rahrig at rahrigj1@msu.edu or May Tsupros at Tsupros1@msu.edu.
This evaluation work was conducted with support from the Michigan Department of Education. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA. Funding for the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program (LFPA) and LFPA Plus was provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service through cooperative agreement AM22LFPA0000C063.
Suggested Citations:
Rahrig. J and Tsupros, M. (2026). Michigan Local Food Purchase Assistance Program Impact. Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems. https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/michigan-local-food-purchase-assistance-program-impact-information-sheets
Rahrig. J and Tsupros, M. (2026). Lessons Learned from the Michigan Local Food Purchase Assistance Program. Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems. https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/michigan-local-food-purchase-assistance-program-impact-information-sheets
Rahrig. J and Tsupros, M. (2026). Maintaining Momentum for producing, selling, and distributing local food through the Michigan Local Food Purchase Assistance program. Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems. https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/michigan-local-food-purchase-assistance-program-impact-information-sheets
