Sen. Markey, Rep. Alma Adams Reintroduce Legislation to Better Use USDA’s Food Purchasing Dollars to Support a Resilient and Healthy Food System

Bill Text (PDF)

Washington (December 15, 2025) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, and Representative Alma S. Adams, PhD (NC-12) today reintroduced the Enabling Farmer, Food worker, Environmental, and Climate Targets through Innovative, Values-aligned, and Equitable (EFFECTIVE) Food Procurement Act, legislation that would that would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to harness its significant amount of purchasing power to promote better food procurement practices. The legislation creates a pathway for USDA's food purchases to support a just, healthy, and sustainable food system by including values-based goals and objectives in procurement decision-making. For example, a procurement goal could include supporting market access to small-scale, historically underserved, and veteran producers. The USDA is one of the largest food purchasers in the world, but nearly half of USDA Agricultural Marketing Service spending in fiscal year 2024 went to just 25 companies, reflecting food sector concentration that can undercut sustainable and small-scale farmers, ranchers, and fishers.

"As families across the country gather around the dinner table this holiday season, we are reminded that food is much more than what we see on our plate. It is the labor of our farmers, the health of our environment, and the binding of our communities." said Senator Markey. "In a time of rising food grocery prices and an administration that has failed to support American farmers, the EFFECTIVE Food Procurement Act would prioritize food purchases that align with values of a food system that is healthy for the planet, for workers, and for consumers."

"Agriculture is about more than just crop prices-it's about sustainability, nutrition, equitable practices, and a strong supply chain that will keep our country fed for generations to come," said Congresswoman Adams. "The EFFECTIVE Food Procurement Act directs the USDA to use its considerable purchasing power to build a more sustainable agriculture system that's healthier for the planet, consumers, workers, and local farmers. I am proud to introduce this bill alongside Senator Markey because when our small-scale and underserved producers are empowered to succeed, everyone wins and our country becomes stronger because of it."

The EFFECTIVE Food Procurement Act is cosponsored in the Senate by Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and in the House of Representatives by Representative Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Cleo Fields (LA-06), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), and André Carson (IN-07).

"USDA's purchasing practices concentrate power among a small number of multinational corporations, sideline independent and sustainable producers, and restrict healthy, sustainably sourced offerings for schools, food banks, and other program beneficiaries," said Lisa Gonzalez, Senior Food and Climate Policy Analyst at Friends of the Earth U.S. "Thank you to Representative Adams and Senator Markey for introducing this important legislation to realign USDA's commodity food procurement to better support sustainable and independent producers, food system workers, and the millions of Americans who rely on USDA's commodity procurement."

"USDA spends billions each year in an agricultural system that picks winners and losers," said Greg Gunthrop, an independent producer of pasture-based pork in Indiana. "Their choice to support the largest players with their agricultural commodity purchases for schools, institutions, and the military is but one more example of USDA choosing a system that is not kind to farmers, farm workers, rural communities, the environment, or animals."

"Most of the USDA's food procurement is upholding a food system that prioritizes the lowest cost at the expense of the public interest," said Jessi Silverman, Campaign Manager for Institutional Food Purchasing and Service at the Center for Science in the Public Interest. "The EFFECTIVE Food Procurement Act would instead leverage USDA's food purchasing to create fair markets for producers, protect workers' rights, and reduce environmental impacts, while ensuring program beneficiaries have access to nutritious food."

"Access to federal government procurement would fundamentally change the economic landscape for small and midsized farmers, ranchers, and food businesses. We've shown our ability to scale to meet new market demand from recent local food programs while centering smaller and beginning growers. Farmers now have more ability to produce than they did prior to those programs. Having an easier, more streamlined access to federal contracts and price points that accommodate smaller growers would be a huge win for North Carolina's agriculture community. Freshlist returns 71 cents on the dollar to farmers through our operation, five times higher than the national average that farmers make in other retail markets. Prioritizing smaller farms and businesses in federal contracting will allow more federal money to flow into rural farming communities and keep farmers on their land, doing what they love," said Erin Bradley, Director of Farmer Relations & Social Impact at Freshlist.

"This legislation is a critical step toward creating fair and sustainable markets for Massachusetts farmers and the communities they serve. By prioritizing values-based purchasing and opportunities for integrating culturally preferred foods, USDA can open new opportunities for beginning farmers, immigrant farmers, and small-scale producers who are committed to growing healthy food and stewarding our environment. For organizations like New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, this means more support for local supply chains, increased purchasing from small, beginning, and socially disadvantaged farmers, stronger regional food systems, and a future where diverse farmers can thrive-not just survive. This bill ensures that federal food dollars reflect our shared values of equity, sustainability, and resilience," said Jennifer Hashley, Director at New Entry Sustainable Farming Project.

"Tackling food systems holistically is the only way we are going to ensure sustainable positive change. As a community organization intimately familiar with both food insecurity and the impacts of climate change, we see the EFFECTIVE Food Procurement Act as a powerful vehicle," said Kannan Thiruvengadam, Executive Director of Eastie Farm.

"The Hawai?i State Department of Education School Food Services Branch is committed to purchasing, preparing and serving foods that improve the health of our students and our planet. We would love to utilize our commodity dollars to buy higher-quality and values-aligned foods through the USDA Foods Program, such as organic produce, no antibiotics ever chicken, and foods sourced from socially disadvantaged producers and local farmers," said Anneliese Tanner, School Food Program Administrator for the Hawai?i State Department of Education. "Thank you to Senator Markey and Representative Adams for introducing this legislation that will make it easier for us to serve school meals that align with our state's policies and values and enable us to meet the needs of every student."

"As a former public school student in North Carolina, I think it's really important for schools to offer meals that support the needs of all students, whether that be due to religious choices or dietary restrictions. Beyond the benefits of inclusivity, I like this bill because it promotes food procurement that is more sustainable and equitable, values that are important to me and my fellow peers. I hope that with the adoption of this bill the USDA is able to better provide nutrition for students across the country, while prioritizing people and the planet," said Ahana Srivastava, North Carolina resident/former student.

"Rural Coalition and our diverse membership have long recognized the value of a diversified, resilient agricultural system that often goes underrepresented in the federal government's usual one-size-fits-all approach to procurement," said Elliot Cordano, Policy and Advocacy Coordinator at Rural Coalition. "We thank Senator Markey and Representative Adams for their leadership on this bill which reflects their commitment to the breadth of American agriculture. This Act provides USDA a unique opportunity to support our country's small- and mid-sized family farmers and ranchers; steward our natural resources; ensure fair practices and protections for workers throughout the supply chain; invest in thriving rural communities; and recognize the value that all producers bring to the table."

The legislation is endorsed by 155 organizations. See the list of endorsing organizations HERE.

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