USDA awards $33.5 million to promote local and regional food

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded more than $33.5 million to 113 projects in 43 states and territories to support local and regional food systems and increase access to locally grown food. This funding is administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) as part of the Local Agricultural Markets Program (LAMP) and through the Farmers Markets and Local Food Promotion Program (FMLFPP) and Regional Food Systems Partnership (RFSP) grants Carry out allocation procedure.

Jeanne Lester Moffitt, USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, emphasized the importance of the program: “Local Agricultural Markets programs strengthen food systems across the country. By investing in these programs, we are supporting small and mid-sized businesses producers, keeping resources in local communities and increasing the resilience of food systems.”

Farmers Markets and Local Food Promotion Program (FMLFPP)

Under the FMLFPP, $14.2 million will support 60 projects in 28 states and territories, with grants focused on expanding producer-to-consumer markets. The grants help farmers develop skills in marketing, fair pricing, agritourism and new sales channels.

Project Highlights

The University of Wisconsin will use an FMLFPP grant to train 100 direct-to-consumer farmers in financial and business management to help them increase sales and profitability.

Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP)

The LFPP emphasizes indirect producer-to-consumer channels, awarding $14.1 million to 43 projects in 29 states and territories. The funding supports regional food chain development through improved processing, distribution and storage.

Project Highlights

In Her Shoes, Inc., located in Weber, Mississippi, received an LFPP grant to support 30 local small farms. The project will provide training to farmers, create mobile produce markets and improve fresh food supplies in the Mississippi Delta.

Regional Food Systems Partnership (RFSP)

The RFSP awarded $5.2 million to 10 projects, strengthening collaboration between local food businesses and institutions such as schools and hospitals. These partnerships aim to increase the presence of locally grown foods in cafeterias and meal programs.

Project Highlights

The Southeast Georgia Regional Co-op is forming a partnership to streamline shipping and logistics for local charity food networks. The project will involve food businesses, nonprofits and universities working together to develop a regional service center focused on efficient food distribution and data management.

This latest round of funding continues USDA’s commitment to local and regional food system development, a priority supported by the 2018 Farm Bill and FY 2024 annual appropriations. Through these projects, AMS is catalyzing the growth of local food markets, enhancing community access to fresh food, and increasing economic resiliency throughout the U.S. food supply chain.