What program that helped schools buy local food was recently cut by the USDA? The USDA's decision to cancel the $660 million Local Food for Schools program has deeply affected school districts that relied on it to purchase fresh produce from local farmers. This initiative, part of a larger effort to support school nutrition after the pandemic, provided affordable, healthy meals for students, particularly in rural areas. The program's cancellation is expected to increase costs and decrease the availability of fresh, locally sourced food in school cafeterias.