Local Food Purchasing Incentives (LFPIs) are programs that provide additional funding to child nutrition program (CNP) operators to directly offset or incentivize local food purchases. Typically funded and operated at the state level, these programs intend to increase the purchasing of local foods in school and early care and education (ECE) settings. The first state-level LFPI was established in 2001, and as of August 2023, at least 16 states and Washington, D.C. have established LFPIs.

Local Food Purchasing Incentives are an important tool for advancing farm to school. Depending on how they are designed, LFPIs can:

• Provide more equitable financial support for child nutrition programs that may face challenges in affording local ingredients; 
• Boost the local agricultural economy by creating a positive cycle that increases institutional demand for local food, which increases the vibrancy and viability of local food market channels;
• Increase the volume and variety of fresh, nourishing, local ingredients available to children, which may in turn increase participation in meals.

National Farm to School Network supports our Partners in researching, advocating for, and implementing LFPIs that are aligned with our values. We have teamed up with the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems to create spaces for peer learning and develop resources about LFPIs. Our goals are to support LFPI stakeholders in all phases of development, increase awareness of LFPIs for general audiences, and deepen connections between state LFPI administrators and partners.