The Food Group, a nonprofit based in New Hope, is facing challenges accessing federal farming grants, which are crucial for its programs. The organization serves Minnesota and Wisconsin by providing food to over 200 food shelves and partner groups in the Twin Cities area.
One of their key initiatives focuses on training new farmers from diverse backgrounds to cultivate fresh, organic produce using sustainable methods. “It’s essential for our local food system to encourage new farmers,” said Sophia Lenarz-Coy, the executive director. “The average age of farmers in Minnesota is approaching 60, so welcoming new people into farming is vital.”
Typically, the U.S. Department of Agriculture supports The Food Group’s farming program through a four-year reimbursement grant. However, recently, the organization discovered its account in the USDA payment system had been suspended.
This suspension followed a federal funding freeze ordered by President Trump in late January. Although that freeze has since been lifted, The Food Group still lacks access to its funds. Lenarz-Coy expressed frustration, noting, “It’s odd because these are reimbursement grants. We complete the work, but when we tried to get reimbursed, we found our account was suspended.”
The difficulty in reaching the federal agency to resolve this issue has added to their challenges. “This situation is unprecedented for us. Federal grants are usually a steady source of income for our organization,” Lenarz-Coy said.
While The Food Group has a diverse revenue mix and can manage temporarily, the uncertainty surrounding the grants complicates planning for the future of their farming program.
