March 18, 2025
Dear Community Members, Local Farmers, and Supporters,
We want to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for funding the Blue Lake Rancheria Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) Program over the past two years. Through this support, we have been able to purchase and distribute fresh, locally grown food to those in our community who need it most.
Since launching this program late 2022, Blue Lake Rancheria has provided monthly Fresh Food Boxes to over 150 households monthly, ensuring that over the course of the program, more than 3,000 deliveries of fresh food reached families in our rural and Tribal communities. In total, we distributed approximately:
• Over 20,000 pounds of locally grown produce, including mushrooms, carrots, potatoes, squash, onions, berries, apples, kale, lettuce, and more.
• Over 6,000 pounds of locally caught fish, raised meat and eggs, including albacore, beef, poultry, and farm-fresh eggs.
These nutritious foods were purchased from over 30 local and socially disadvantaged farmers and producers, including:
• Small-scale food producers in Humboldt and Del Norte counties, many of which are Indigenous- or family-owned.
• Local ranchers raising sustainable livestock.
• Community-based egg producers committed to ethical, small-scale poultry farming.
• Local fisherman.
• Through this program, we have not only provided fresh food to our community but also strengthened our local food system by supporting small farmers and fisherman, prioritizing purchases from socially disadvantaged producers, and increasing economic opportunities for those growing, catching, and raising food in our region.
Unfortunately, due to the unexpected cancellation of the LFPA program, over $105,000 in anticipated funding has been cut, meaning we will no longer be able to continue this initiative after September 2025. This loss of funding significantly impacts our ability to provide local, nutritious food to our Tribal elders—who have always been our priority—as well as to other families and individuals in our community who lack access to fresh, locally produced food.
Blue Lake Rancheria remains deeply committed to food sovereignty and local food access. For years, we have supported community health through nutrition programs like our Title VI Elders Nutrition Program, which has provided up to 60,000 meals annually to Tribal members, elders, and families. We also maintain a community garden that supplies fresh, natural foods and offer educational workshops and food distribution services to promote sustainability and healthy living.
While the LFPA program will end in September, our commitment to providing nutritious, culturally appropriate food remains strong. The Elders Nutrition Program and other food initiatives will continue, and we will keep exploring ways to support elders, families, and community members in need. We sincerely thank the local farmers, ranchers, and producers who partnered with us and encourage continued support for their work.
For any questions or to share your experiences with the LFPA program, please feel free to reach out to TEPA@bluelakerancheria-nsn.gov. We appreciate your support and will continue seeking opportunities to strengthen food security for our community. If you’d like to help, we encourage donations to local food programs that are also experiencing funding cuts or reach out to us to explore ways to support Blue Lake Rancheria’s food programs and ensure continued access to fresh, local, and nutritious food for those in need.
Jason Ramos
Tribal Chairman
Blue Lake Rancheria