Wisconsin ends program aiding farmers and food pantries

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has ended the Wisconsin Local Food Purchase Assistance Program, which supported local farmers and provided fresh produce to food pantries. The program began in 2021 and helped nearly 300 farms distribute $4.2 million worth of food. The program aimed to assist historically marginalized groups in agriculture, with significant participation from Black, Indigenous, and women-owned farms. It facilitated partnerships between farmers and local hunger relief organizations to improve food access. The USDA cited a shift in agency priorities for the program's termination. This decision comes amid broader cost-cutting measures by the Trump administration, despite rising food insecurity affecting over 617,000 residents in Wisconsin.