Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians LFPA Plus Executive Summary

The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon is applying to USDA for $266,000 under the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program. For many years, the Tribe has been operating three main food collection, growing and distribution programs through its USDA FDPIR programs, Diabetes Health program and Healthy Traditions Programs. The Tribe is interested in establishing purchasing agreements with local producers to secure fresh, nutritious produce and other sources of protein to further provide for the underserved, low income, disabled and elderly tribal families, and to address inflation and food shortages. At the same time, this will assist socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers by providing them with better economic stability. The Tribe will develop and implement purchase agreements with socially disadvantaged local food producers and manage the purchase and receipt of produce and sources of protein to increase the availability of healthy, nutritious food to low-income families living in the Tribe’s eleven-county service area. The Tribe plans to distribute foods to low income, disabled and elderly families within the eleven-county service area from two separate food warehouses (one on the central Oregon coast range and the other in the central valley range of Oregon) resulting in an increased access to produce and sources of protein considered healthy and nutritious foods. The Tribe has developed working relationships with several agricultural consortia, and collaborative efforts have brought about significant enhancements to each of the Tribe’s food programs.