The Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund Delivers Over 3,000 Pounds of Fresh Produce to New Orleans Families Amid Government Shutdown

https://conta.cc/4p5niU3

November 12, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



Contact: Briar Blakley

Director of Communications & Member Relations

Phone: 404-765-0991

communications@federation.coop

Demonstrating the power of cooperative work, the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/ Land Assistance Fund connects Black farmers and food banks to sustain communities and local food systems amid halted federal support.

ATLANTA, GA — November 12, 2025 — The Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund, through its cooperatively owned Regional Marketing System, delivered over 3,000 pounds of fresh produce on Monday to Second Harvest Food Bank in New Orleans, Louisiana, in partnership with Feeding America. This milestone marks the launch of a coordinated regional effort spanning Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia to bring fresh, locally grown food to families during the government shutdown.

In a time of national disruption, marked by halted SNAP benefits and growing food insecurity, Black farmers organized through the Federation’s cooperatives are delivering thousands of pounds of fresh food to families, with more deliveries underway across the South.

“As the shutdown went on, with the cessation of SNAP benefits, we realized that it was going to be a real challenge because the reality is, for every one meal that a food bank provides, SNAP provides nine. And so it's really a bridge too far for food banks, typically, unless they get considerable community support. The Federation of Southern Cooperatives Land Assistance Fund, it's very timely to receive this produce,” said John Sillars, Chief Strategy Officer with Second Harvest Food Bank.

The Federation’s regional network is once again demonstrating that Farmers Are First Responders™, stepping up when systems fail. What began as a planning conversation during an executive staff meeting in Albany, Georgia, has now come full circle through strategic collaboration and field-level action across the South. Through partnerships with Feeding America and regional food banks, the Federation is connecting Black farmers and co-ops directly with local food distribution systems to strengthen community-based food pipelines and ensure that fresh, nutritious produce reaches those most affected by the government shutdown.

“This moment shows exactly why the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) Program mattered,” said Cornelius Blanding, Executive Director of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund. “With SNAP benefits halted during the government shutdown, communities face immediate food insecurity. Without LFPA, we are left to figure out how to pay the very farmers who feed those communities. LFPA was a federal investment program that strengthened local food systems by enabling farmers and cooperatives to grow, harvest, and move food directly into their communities.”

“There is a clear role for states to step up, to prioritize farmers and local cooperatives in their procurement strategies,” Blanding added. “When states purchase food from local producers, they effectively create their own state-level LFPA, sustaining farmers and strengthening community food pipelines, especially during times like these.”

The Federation emphasizes that the nation’s food system remains vulnerable without locally and cooperatively owned infrastructure, the capacity to coordinate production, store food, and distribute it efficiently. Without this foundation, communities cannot build a resilient, community-owned, and economically beneficial food system for Black and other family farmers.

“We stand with those affected by the government shutdown,” Blanding stated. “In response, we are connecting our member farmers and cooperatives directly with food distribution systems, bridging the gap between producers and the communities they serve.”

Support the Black farmers, landowners, and cooperatives who sustain our communities. Join our Capital Campaign, share our mission, and partner with us to build a stronger, cooperatively owned food system, and secure the future of Black landownership, agriculture, cooperative development, and rural communities across the South: https://www.give2federation.org/

Media Inquiries:

High-resolution photos, b-roll footage, and interview opportunities with Federation representatives and farmers are available upon request.

Contact: Briar Blakley, Director of Communications & Member Relations

E: briarblakley@federation.coop | P: 404-765-0991