OSHKOSH, Wis. (WFRV) – The Oshkosh Area Community Pantry (OACP) says that it has lost about $120,000 worth of fresh produce after federal cuts in March 2025.
According to a release, the end of the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA), which was provided through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), has resulted in substantial losses.
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The OACP said that Olden Organics has been a partner since 2023, with support from the LFPA; however, the discontinuation of the program has created a ‘significant gap’ in the supply of fresh food for its service area.
However, with local donors from the following groups, the OACP says it’s still able to provide despite federal cuts:
- Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin
- Oshkosh Area Community Foundation
- Winnebago County
- Women Who Care Greater Oshkosh
OACP Executive Director Ryan Rasmussen stated in the release that the LFPA was key in fostering connections with local farms and food assistance groups; however, the organization remains committed to sourcing fresh food.
“Even though that funding has ended, we remain committed to sourcing fresh, locally grown produce for the families we serve,” Rasmussen said in the release. “Access to healthy food shouldn’t be a luxury; it’s a basic need.”
The OACP is open for guest shopping in the Saint Vincent de Paul building at 2551 Jackson Street in Oshkosh on Monday from 2 to 6 p.m. and Tuesdays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
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