Carlisle, PA — Today, Governor Josh Shapiro visited Destiny Dairy Bar in Carlisle alongside Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and the bipartisan chairs of the Pennsylvania General Assembly’s Agriculture Committees: Representative Eddie Day Pashinski, Representative Dan Moul, Senator Elder Vogel, and Senator Judy Schwank.
The Governor was joined by this group of bipartisan legislative leaders, who recently sent a joint letter to Congress urging federal officials to restore the $13 million in federal funding that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) abruptly and unlawfully terminated earlier this year. Together, they highlighted the critical importance of the Commonwealth’s Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) Program, which has supported 189 Pennsylvania farms and 14 food banks — helping farmers feed families in need.
“Pennsylvania farmers work hard every day to put food on our tables — and with Washington breaking its promise to them, we’re standing up for our farmers and food banks,” said Governor Shapiro. “This funding helps hundreds of family farms and food banks feed people in need. I’m proud to stand with the four chairs of our Agriculture Committees who have spoken up in support of our farmers and food banks. This isn’t a partisan issue — it’s about doing what’s best for Pennsylvania farmers and communities, and about making sure the federal government keeps the contract it made with the people of Pennsylvania.”
Representatives Pashinski and Moul and Senators Vogel and Schwank are also calling on Congress to act swiftly to restore this critical funding for Pennsylvania’s farmers and families. In their joint letter, they wrote:
“As members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, we work across the aisle to uphold support for our farmers and food system in every community. The USDA’s decision not only jeopardizes food access but also undermines the farmers who are the foundation of our food system and work tirelessly to keep America fed.”
Since 2022, nearly $30 million in LFPA funding has helped small and mid-sized farms across Pennsylvania supply fresh, locally grown products to food banks — keeping every federal dollar in the Commonwealth — and supporting farmers in the dairy, produce, meat, poultry, egg, and grain sectors. Agriculture remains a cornerstone of Pennsylvania’s economy, with over 53,000 farms generating $132.5 billion annually and supporting 600,000 jobs. Governor Shapiro’s Economic Development Strategy places agriculture at the forefront, recognizing it as essential to the Commonwealth’s growth.
In March, the USDA announced that it would abruptly and unlawfully terminate the Commonwealth’s most recent three-year LFPA agreement without explanation, despite Pennsylvania’s strong compliance record and successful administration of the program. Governor Shapiro and Secretary Redding made repeated appeals — through administrative channels, direct outreach to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, and in-person meetings in Washington — before ultimately being left with no option but to pursue legal action.
“This isn’t just a bureaucratic disagreement — it’s about real people, real livelihoods, and real meals for families who need them,” said Secretary Redding. “We are deeply grateful to our legislative leaders for standing with us and ensuring that agriculture remains a united front in Pennsylvania.”
Governor Shapiro and Secretary Redding have visited farmers, food security leaders, and local officials across the Commonwealth to hear firsthand how vital the LFPA program has been. Farmers shared stories of how the funding enabled them to expand production and grow tens of thousands of pounds of fresh produce, while food banks described how the sudden loss of funding has disrupted operations at a time of record-high demand.
Pennsylvania remains one of the only states that has used LFPA funding exclusively to support in-state farms — ensuring every federal dollar stays local.
As the Governor’s lawsuit moves forward, the bipartisan legislators are calling on Congress to act, urging the USDA to reverse its decision or, if necessary, to restore LFPA funding through the appropriations process. As they wrote in their letter:
“Now more than ever, collaboration across all levels of government is essential. Our farmers, food producers, and vulnerable families deserve a coordinated response that safeguards the stability, resilience, and continued growth of Pennsylvania agriculture — our Commonwealth’s leading industry.”
Governor Shapiro’s leadership is ensuring Pennsylvania remains a national leader in agriculture — supporting our farmers, growing rural economies, and strengthening the food supply chain for generations to come. These investments are critical to the future of Pennsylvania agriculture, and the Governor is helping to build a more resilient agricultural economy, safeguard the food supply, and secure a prosperous future for Pennsylvania’s farming communities.
Learn more about the commonsense investments in the Governor’s 2025-26 budget proposal at shapirobudget.pa.gov and how the Shapiro Administration is supporting Pennsylvania’s farmers.
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