​USDA Federal Funding Cuts Terminate Successful Program Connecting Local NM Food Producers and Food Banks

Santa Fe, NM – The Food Depot, Northern New Mexico’s Food Bank, regrets to announce that federal funding supporting the Regional Farm to Food Bank (RF2FB) program has been terminated, despite an initial extension, effectively bringing the federally funded program to an end.The RF2FB has been instrumental in connecting New Mexico farmers, ranchers, and food producers to the state’s food bank network. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) termination of federal funding creates uncertainty for local food producers who sell to food banks and reduces access to locally grown food statewide.
 
The RF2FB program, created under the American Rescue Plan Act in 2021, is currently funded through the USDA Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) Cooperative Agreement. Since its inception,  the RF2FB has been a significant purchaser of local foods, accounting for 34% of all NM Grown institutional purchases from small and midsize producers in 2024.
 
“During the last three years, New Mexico’s RF2FB program has been a national standout, spending more than $3.6 million with local producers on healthy and culturally appropriate food,” says Denise Miller, Executive Director of the New Mexico Farmers’ Marketing Association that partners with The Food Depot on this initiative.
 
In October 2024, the USDA announced a $500 million extension of the LFPA program, with $2.8 million designated for New Mexico, prompting producers to plan and invest in the next three-year cycle. However, on March 7, 2025, the USDA informed the New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) that it would terminate the 2025 LFPA Cooperative Agreement, ending federal funding for the RF2FB and halting operations when the current LFPA program ends.  

“The federal government’s decision to end this program delivers a major blow to families like mine who are heavily invested in feeding our communities locally produced beef. There’s nothing more American than feeding your community fresh beef that was born, raised, and processed in a 60-mile radius. Ranching isn’t just our livelihood—it’s our heritage,” explains Manny Encinias, owner of Trilogy Beef and Buffalo Creek Ranch in Moriarty, NM.
“Without this support, we risk losing more than income; we risk losing the ability to sustain our land, our families, and our way of life. This decision doesn’t just impact ranchers. It threatens the entire rural economy, including locally owned businesses like our USDA meat processing facility, which depends on ranching families like us to stay in operation. Perhaps most concerning, it makes it even harder to bring the next generation back to the ranch,” stresses Mr. Encinias. “Without programs like this, the future of family ranching becomes even more uncertain, discouraging the very people we need to carry this way of life forward.”
 
The loss of federal support has a profound impact on local farmers, ranchers, food banks, and families who depend on this critical program.

• 94% of RF2FB purchases in 2024 were purchased from socially disadvantaged and historically underserved producers.
• 899,402 pounds of locally grown food have been distributed since January 2023,  providing 749,502 healthy meals.
• Every $1 spent on local food generates $1.70 in economic benefits, reinforcing regional economies.
• The RF2FB has delivered food to over 250 distribution sites across all 33 New Mexico counties.
• 17 out of 33 New Mexico counties have participating producers.
• In FY24, 34% of all NM Grown institutional purchases came from The RF2FB.
• Over 200 New Mexican farmers, ranchers, and small local food businesses have benefited from this program.

The Food Depot, in partnership with the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, manages the program for the New Mexico Association of Food Banks. All five of New Mexico’s food banks secure food through partnerships with donors, nationwide procurement efforts, and food rescue. The Regional Farm to Food Bank program allowed the food bank network to invest in local producers and enhanced the healthy and culturally responsive food options at local food bank distributions.
 
“This program has played a vital role in strengthening New Mexico’s food system,” says Jill Dixon, Executive Director at The Food Depot. “The loss of funding will disrupt supply chains and also impact the livelihoods of the farmers and the communities they help feed.”
 
The Food Depot and the New Mexico Farmers' Marketing Association (NMFMA) are urging New Mexico’s congressional delegation to create a permanent LFPA program in the next Farm Bill to maintain the proven partnership between local farmers, growers, and food banks. Additionally, we are pushing to reverse the decision to terminate LFPA25 and reinstate it. The Food Depot and NMFMA remain committed to advocating for strong food systems and ensuring that all New Mexicans continue to have access to fresh, locally sourced food.  

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About The Food Depot, Northern New Mexico’s Food Bank
Established in 1994, The Food Depot aims to make healthy food accessible to communities across nine counties, 26,000 square miles, of Northern New Mexico. A dynamic network of nonprofit partner agencies and unique hunger-relief programs provides an average of 700,000 healthy meals each month to more than 40,000 individuals. Resource navigation, wraparound services, and statewide advocacy efforts also support clients as they work toward food security. The Food Depot is proud to be a Santa Fe Chamber of