Our Coalition Work

Farmers First

‘Farmers First’ is our 2025 advocacy campaign to protect Louisiana’s vegetable farmers amid massive federal cuts in support programs. Representative Jack MacFarland sponsored HR 205 in support of Louisiana’s farmers. Tune in for more updates on August 28th at 3:00 when the ‘dust has settled’ post-legislative session!

LSSAC

We act as the policy and advocacy arm of the Louisiana Small Scale Agriculture Coalition (LSSAC). LSSAC convenes organizations that provide regional assistance to specialty crop farmers in Louisiana. By serving the daily needs of farmers in LSSAC with classes, grants, training, and direct technical assistance, we can be in a reciprocal relationship with the farmers we advocate for.

Learn more about LSSAC at LSSAC.org.

Farm Bill

Louisiana FPAC convenes specialty crop farmers for farm bill advocacy when the time comes (whenever that is!). In 2022, we conducted a statewide listening session tour, developed a network of farmers in Louisiana, and created a unified Farm Bill Policy Platform.

Statewide Working Groups

As we scale up to a state-wide coalition, our working groups must grow and adapt to Louisiana's existing eco-system of food work. LaFPAC working groups include:

  • Seafood (check out Seafood Passport)

  • Climate and Disaster (check out ‘Don’t Get Caught With Your Plants Down’!)

  • Farm to ECE (Join monthly Farm to ECE calls.)

  • We do our Hunger and Nutrition work on a statewide level by participating in the incredible ongoing work of the State Nutrition Action Council.

  • Our Food Production working group is done via participation in LSSAC.

New Orleans Working Groups

Our New Orleans working groups include:

  • Business Development. Check out:

  • Food Access. Check out our work in connecting daycares to healthy local food through our Farm To ECE work

  • Food Production: Check out our work in coalition, moving the city towards more substantial support of urban agriculture, like getting an urban agriculture liaison for New Orleans via our ‘A Greener New Orleans’ Campaign.

Louisiana Food Policy Action Council Priorities 2025-2026

1. Increase Childhood Nutrition

  • Ensure the continuation of Summer EBT through legislative action

  • Expand Farm to School, including Early Care and Education (ECE) centers

  • Support Universal Free School Meals

  • Expand equitable summer feeding programs

  • Improve WIC access through increased enrollment and incentivization of retailers

  • Reinstate and support Grab-and-Go waivers for after-school programs

2. Increase Support for Food-Producing Farmers

  • Address land access and consider managed retreat due to coastal/climate threats (state & federal levels)

  • Support the adoption of the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act, and address farmland loss due to eminent domain and industrial pressure

  • Provide funding and technical assistance for small-scale, specialty crop, climate-smart, regenerative, and USDA-defined "socially disadvantaged" or underserved farmers

  • Support market development and marketing for specialty crops

3. Increase Access to Healthy Food

  • Expand and support farmers' markets

  • Increase WIC program participation and reach

  • Continue and expand funding for the Greaux the Good nutrition incentive program

  • Expand nutrition incentive programs in fresh food retail outlets

  • Scale up FMNP (Farmers Market Nutrition Program) with statewide matching funds

  • Strengthen and expand Healthy Food Retailer Initiatives

  • Offer incentives for fresh food retail (e.g., tax incentives, land-use overlays, innovative local programs)

4. Leverage Federal Funding Opportunities

  • Work with state agencies and legislators to accept and equitably distribute federal funding

  • Partner with foundations and community-based funders to match or supplement federal funding

  • Allocate state dollars to match federal programs, increasing their reach and impact

  • Increase Farm to School (including ECEs) reimbursement for local food purchasing

  • Collaborate with agencies to leverage infrastructure dollars (e.g., transportation and other systems that support the food supply chain)

5. Ensure Equitable Disaster Relief and Response

  • Increase transparency in Disaster SNAP (DSNAP), including pre-registration processes

  • Expand funding for state agencies to improve DSNAP response times and staff capacity

  • Allow contracted SNAP assistance providers to process DSNAP applications to improve access

  • Increase disaster relief for local farmers through programs like TEFAP, CCC, and others

  • Expand SNAP-authorized retailers in disaster and post-disaster areas

  • Implement Louisiana Wallet integration for SNAP and DSNAP access

6. Build Food Policy Advocacy Capacity

  • Provide technical assistance to regions and cities on food policy challenges and opportunities, support burgeoning FPCs throughout Louisiana

  • Grow a strong, connected network of advocates through initiatives like Louisiana Food Fellows and the Farmer’s Climate Cohort

  • Offer training and advocacy opportunities to support long-term policy change