By Cassandra Bull, National Farm to School Network Policy Specialist and Colleen Matts, Director, Farm to Institution Programs Center for Regional Food Systems, Michigan State University

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 purchasing of local foods in school and early care and education (ECE) settings.

Across the country, LFPIs are designed to meet the needs of their specific state. Despite their differences, there are still commonalities that emerge in LFPI administration.  

This resource aims to illustrate important aspects of LFPI administration, show examples of collaboration, and address common challenges faced by administrators.  

This document is part of a resource series on Local Food Purchasing Incentives (LFPIs), produced through collaboration between the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS) and the National Farm to School Network. This project aims to contribute to the growing body of knowledge on LFPIs and provide more information for farm to school advocates and practitioners nationwide.

Explore other resources in this series at foodsystems.msu.edu/local-food-purchasing-incentives. To learn more about states that offer LFPI’s, check out farmtoschool.org/policy/lfpis.