USDA Announces $102.7 Million Investment to Expand Markets for Specialty Crop and Other Farmers
Author
Published
9/18/2018
USDA is investing $102.7 million to increase opportunities for farmers, ranchers and other growers across the country through five grant programs. The funding supports a variety of locally-led projects intended to expand markets for local food promotion and specialty crops.
The resources announced today are administered by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and include:
- $72.15 million is directed to state departments of agriculture in 50 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program(SCBGP) to support farmers growing specialty crops, including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and nursery crops. States use the SCBGP to fund research, agricultural extension activities and programs to increase demand for agricultural goods of value to farmers in the state or territory.
- $13.35 million is directed to 49 projects supporting direct producer-to-consumer marketing projects such as farmers markets, community-supported agriculture programs, roadside stands, and agri-tourism through the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP).
- $13.45 million is directed to 44 projects to support the development and expansion of local and regional food businesses to increase domestic consumption of, and access to, locally and regionally produced agricultural products, and to develop new market opportunities for farm and ranch operations serving local markets through the Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP).
- $2.67 million is awarded to six projects through the Acer Access and Development Program (Acer). This funding supports the efforts of states, tribal governments and research institutions to increase market opportunities for the domestic maple syrup industry.
- $1.1 million is awarded for nine projects through the Federal State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP)to assist in exploring new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products and to encourage research and innovation aimed at improving the efficiency and performance of the marketing system.
USDA supports local and regional food systems and increases consumer access to fresh, healthy foods through applied research, technical services and Congressionally-funded grants administered by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). More information is available at: www.ams.usda.gov.
The lists of FY 2018 grant recipients are available here:
Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP)
Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP)
Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP)
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