Local School Food Procurement Program (also referred to as LFP, HB-1132)
The goal for the LFP is to encourage child nutrition sponsors to procure local products, while fostering nutrition education, bolstering F2S activities across the states, and supporting Colorado producers. The procured products must be considered CO products “grown, raised, or processed” in the state, excluding liquid milk. Value-added products must meet the standards for the Colorado Proud designation. Value-added processed products can only account for up to 25% of awarded funds.
Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement (also referred to as LFS)
The LFS allows participating school districts to be reimbursed for qualifying purchases while students eating meals at school will benefit from higher quality nutritious meals. The goal of this program is to strengthen the Colorado food system. The program will support socially disadvantaged and small farmers, producers, ranchers, and businesses to build greater economic opportunities by expanding and diversifying markets to include school districts in the state. Products procured for this program must be considered unprocessed or minimally processed food products from a producer or small business that is located within Colorado or within 400 miles of the delivery destination.
Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (also referred to as LFPA)
Through the LFPA the state will purchase local foods using a competitive procurement process for Colorado food producers, for-profit organizations, and non-profit organizations such as food banks and food pantries. The goal of this program it to increase consumption of Colorado produced food by new and historically underrepresented communities. Products procured must be considered grown, raised produced, aggregated, stored, and distributed within the state from production to destination. The program will target food products from small and historically underserved producers.
Healthy School Meals for All Program: Local Food Purchasing Program (also referred to as HSMA, HSMA LFP, Prop FF, Universal Meal Program, SB22-087)
The program was initiated by a voter proposition to allow all School Food Authorities participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs to provide free meals to all students beginning in the 2023-24 school year. This program allows eligibility to receive a local food purchasing grant to any School Food Authorities who have created an advisory committee. The goal of this program is to support Colorado’s food system, including local farmers and ranchers. Products procured must be considered Colorado grown, raised, or processed. Value-added processed products can only account for up to 25% of awarded funds.
Food Pantry Assistance Grant (also referred to as FPAG, HB 20-1422)
The FPAG distributes funds to food banks and pantries across the state to purchase Colorado agricultural products. The goal of this program is to aid Colorado food pantries and food banks in the purchasing of foods that better meet the needs of their clientele as well as create new market opportunities for Colorado agricultural producers. Products procured must be considered “Colorado agricultural products.” All fruits, vegetables, grains, meats, and dairy products grown or raised in Colorado, and minimally processed products or value-added processed products that meet the standards for the Colorado Proud designation established by the state department of agriculture are considered “Colorado agricultural products.” Items included fresh/frozen meat, fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, milk, butter, cheese, eggs, grains, and beans. Fresh/frozen meat was the food purchased most often.
Community Food Access Program (also referred to as Critical Services for Low-income Households HB 22-1380)
This program is focused on improving access to healthy foods in low-income and underserved areas of the state. The program has set two goals (1) improve access to and lower prices for healthy foods in low-income and underserved areas of the state by supporting small food retailers and (2) support small food retailers and small family farms that were impacted by COVID-19 to purchase equipment and other needs to increase access to healthy food. The programs’ goals will be accomplished through a grant program, technical assistance, and a consortium that will act as an organizing body with a budget to support overcoming barriers to supplying healthy food in small retail stores. As of now, there are no product specifications.
