WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service has awarded more than $33.5 million for 113 grant projects in 43 states and territories to expand and strengthen local and regional food systems, while increasing the availability of locally grown agricultural products. The funding will be distributed through the Local Agriculture Market Program’s (LAMP) Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Programs (FMLFPP) and the Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP) grant program.
“The Local Agriculture Market Program is a key piece of USDA’s efforts to strengthen local and regional food systems with over $220 million awarded to 597 projects since 2021,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. “The projects will expand market opportunities for small and mid-sized producers, allow more money to stay within local and rural economies and build resilience in our food systems.”
FMLFPP is implemented through two grant programs, the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) and the Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP). The goal of the programs is to strengthen local and regional food businesses through projects that support farmers via the creation of targeted marketing capabilities; training on topics such as record keeping, fair pricing, family-friendly marketing and agritourism activities; and new market development.
FMPP
This year, FMPP is awarding $14.2 million to 60 projects across 28 states and territories. The program funds projects that support producer-to-consumer markets, such as farmers markets, roadside stands, agritourism activities, community-supported agriculture programs, and online sales.
LFPP
LFPP is awarding $14.1 million in fiscal year 2024 funding to 43 projects across 29 states and territories. The program supports local and regional food businesses that engage as intermediaries in indirect producer to consumer marketing. The awarded projects focus on activities, such as supporting the processing, aggregation, distribution, and storage of local and regional food products; developing value-added products; and facilitating regional food chain coordination.
RFSP
RFSP is awarding $5.2 million to 10 partnerships across 10 states. The program supports the development of relationships between local and regional food businesses and institutions, such as schools, hospitals, and governments to increase local and regional foods in institutional cafeterias and meal programs.
Project Highlight:
- The Southeast Regional Cooperative in East Point, Ga. is receiving a RFSP grant to create a partnership that will engage food and agriculture businesses, non-profits and universities to increase efficiency in the region’s charitable food network. They will develop strategies to improve transportation management, middle of the supply chain logistics, value-added processing, and integrated data management, all of which will culminate in a regional service center.
LAMP and its accompanying grant programs are funded through the 2018 Farm Bill and FY2024 annual appropriations.