More than 20,000 Domestic Producers to Benefit from USDA Awards Providing Organic Market Development, Promotion Support 

$9.75 million in Organic Market Development Grants will build
on the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to build more,
new and better markets for farmers and help interested
farmers transition to organic production 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced $9.75 million awarded to 10 grant projects through the Organic Market Development Grant (OMDG). The funded projects will support the development and expansion of new and existing organic markets to increase the consumption of domestic organic agricultural products. Together these projects will provide information and services to more than 20,000 producers and 20,000 buyers to increase market opportunities for organic farmers.   

“USDA is excited to announce the first round of funding awarded through the Organic Market Development Grant program,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. “The recipients of this funding will be spearheading unprecedented efforts to expand and open new revenue streams for the nation’s organic industry, building more value-added agricultural opportunities for farmers across rural America.”    

Under Secretary Moffitt is in Longmont, Colo., today, visiting Dry Land Distillery which partners with OMDG grant recipient The Colorado Grain Chain to source locally produced organic grain to craft their products. The Colorado Grain Chain is a non-profit organization that will use OMDG funding to expand on their work enhancing market opportunities for producers, processors, and value-added product makers of organic grain for human consumption.  

In May 2023, USDA announced approximately $75 million available through OMDG to increase the availability and demand for domestically produced organic agricultural products and to address the critical need for additional market paths. This first round of OMDG awards for the Market Development and Promotion project type is funded by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC).