North Carolina Action Alert
Congress is in the beginning stages of writing the 2023 Farm Bill, and we are calling on Congress to make local food systems a priority. The COVID-19 pandemic proved the importance of investing in our regional food systems to sustain jobs and ensure our communities remain fed. Investing in our regional food systems is vital. The Fresh Produce Procurement Reform Act will help make this possible.
North Carolina has a critical opportunity to advocate for a strong local food system.
The bipartisan Fresh Produce Procurement Reform Act will create a permanent pathway for USDA to purchase and provide locally produced fruits and vegetables to our neighbors who most need it. The bill would direct USDA to contract with a range of entities to purchase fresh produce from small farms and distribute it to families at risk for food and nutrition insecurity. CFSA’s FarmsSHARE is a great example of the kinds of programs the bill would promote.
Will you take action with us today to support the Fresh Produce Procurement Reform Act?
Ask Senator Tillis to Champion Local Produce in USDA Food Programs
Will you please take a few minutes to contact North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis? You can do so over the phone over email. Whichever your preference, we’ve included sample language you can use. Adapt it as you like.
Call
Dial Senator Tillis’ D.C. office at 202-224-6342 and leave a message.
“Hello, my name is _____, and I am a constituent and a _____[farmer, parent, concerned citizen, etc.].
“As your constituent, I care about strengthening our local food systems. The Fresh Produce Procurement Act will support the expansion and growth of local and regional food systems in North Carolina. It will provide investments in food-insecure communities to promote local economies and ensure easy, affordable access to fresh, locally-grown produce from North Carolina farms. Will you consider being an original sponsor of the Act today?
“Thank you.”
Write the senator using the form on his website.
Dear Senator Tillis,
Hello! My name is ______, and I work with _____. [Make small talk! Build rapport, especially if you don’t know the office you’re reaching out to that well].
I am reaching out to share how the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association’s FarmsSHARE program has provided essential, nutritious, and culturally relevant food in North Carolina and how the Fresh Produce Procurement Reform Act offers resources to continue this work.
The upcoming farm bill reauthorization presents a great opportunity for your office to support our community of farmers and constituents here in North Carolina. COVID-19 has shown that consolidation and reliance on large markets can make supply chains brittle. Congress addressed these issues through multiple COVID-era relief and recovery investments. Newly authorized food assistance programs contracted with small farmers across the country to distribute food to over ten thousand nonprofits and feed hundreds of thousands of residents, including North Carolina FarmsSHARE, which is buying almost $10 million worth of local food from our state’s small farms. But this funding was only temporary and families are still facing higher food costs at the grocery store.
We need your help in sustaining these impactful programs by creating a permanent program in the 2023 Farm Bill. Local food procurement programs like CFSA’s FarmsSHARE keep our communities nourished.
As farm bill discussions are underway, Senator Brown and Representatives DeLauro and Valadao have committed to maintaining these impactful investments. Can we count on you to join Senator Brown and support local farmers and food-insecure communities?
If so, please reach out to Senator Brown’s office about sponsoring the Fresh Produce Procurement Reform Act today.
Thank you for your time.
Thank you for joining us in this campaign!
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