Oklahoma Farm to Table Program

The Food Bank’s Oklahoma Farm to Table program provides families with fresh and nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables while supporting local farmers. Oklahoma Farm to Table purchases fresh produce from local growers to provide for our neighbors struggling with food insecurity.  This program benefits and strengthens our local food system while also offering a nutritious selection of seasonal fruits and vegetables to those we serve.

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Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma works with farmers connecting them with resources to further develop their businesses.  We then purchase the food and distribute it through our programs with the purpose of improving the health of those we serve by providing access to nutrient-dense, healthy food.

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An Investment in Our Future

The Oklahoma Farm to Table Program is an investment in our food future and establishes the platform for Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma to be one of the largest buyers of local food in the region. As one of the largest purchasers of local food in our region, we can create a demand for Oklahoma-grown and regionally-grown fresh produce and make it available to our neighbors. We believe in the power of local food to create healthy, happy communities and our goal is to make it easier for everyone to eat fresh and healthy foods grown locally in our state. The OK Farm to Table Program is a strategic and financially viable procurement strategy that expands the capacity of local and regional producers by providing a guaranteed marketplace for their products. Through this investment, we can purchase locally and regionally-grown fresh fruits and vegetables while providing individuals with food security and stability through access to healthy food. Our investment comes with many benefits. The program expands the capacity of local producers by providing a guaranteed sales avenue; it also addresses low produce consumption by Oklahoma citizens, increases available nutrients and access to culturally relevant foods, and re-invests donor dollars into Oklahoma’s economy. This program has also prompted many local farmers to grow and harvest a greater variety and quantity of fresh fruits and vegetables.

 

Local Food Procurement Assistance Program (LFPA)
The Local Food Procurement Assistance program (LFPA) is a cooperative agreement between the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and two Oklahoma state agencies – ODAFF and OK Dept. of Human Services. The LFPA program is authorized by the American Rescue Plan to maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency. 

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With the cooperative agreement, The Oklahoma Local Farmers Program for Underserved Populations will identify and reach out to underserved farmers and producers to provide them an opportunity to distribute food products to local underserved communities, helping to expand economic development for both the producers and the communities they serve. 

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