Find Your Market with USDA’s Local Food Directories
USDA’s Local Food Directories make it easy for customers to find fresh local foods available through Agritourism, Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs), Farmers Markets, Food Hubs, and On-Farm Markets. The Directory, which is mobile phone compatible, can be used by market managers to update their market information, and by customers to find nearby markets and specific market items. Both managers and customers can learn more about using the directory here. Hear from Botanical Bites about how the Local Food Directories have supported their business.
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Strong Growth in Direct Sales from Farms and Ranches
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Data from the 2022 Census of Agriculture shows producers sold $17.5 billion in food, including both processed and unprocessed food, through direct marketing channels. That is a 25% increase (after adjusting for inflation) since the 2017 Census of Agriculture and an annual real growth rate of 4.6%. The increase from 2017 was driven by a surge in food sold directly to retail outlets, institutions, and intermediary markets. |
New Resource for Specialty and Small-Scale Producers
Finding the “right risk management fit” just got easier. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) has created a new resource for specialty and small-scale producers. It is a searchable database of crop insurance agents who sell Whole-Farm Revenue Protection and Micro Farm policies, two of the most comprehensive risk management options.
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Local Dashboard Now Available for Producers in All 50 States
Farmers in all 50 states can now access county specific farming data and USDA resources all in one place via the new farmers.gov local dashboard. Your farmers.gov local dashboard includes farming data and USDA resources including USDA news, commodity pricing, weather forecasts, historical climate data, past storm events, USDA service center locator, and additional state resources for your region. The dashboard transforms complex data sets into easy-to-read charts and graphs to help you quickly find information that matters to you.
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Call for Grant Programs Peer Reviewers
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking subject matter experts to serve as peer reviewers to evaluate grant applications for the Fiscal Year 2024 grant cycle. AMS grant peer reviews bring together diverse individuals who provide fair, expert, and unbiased evaluations of grant applications. Reviewing applications will take approximately 6 weeks and non-federal reviewers will be compensated for their reviews.
Current Programs Seeking Peer Reviewers:
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Each month, we highlight the work of Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion grant recipients.
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The Fairshare CSA Coalition, Inc.
The Fairshare CSA Coalition, Inc., a non-profit based in Madison, Wis., envisions a future with Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) as the foundation of a community and supports this goal by providing equal access to locally produced, organic food from small-scale farms. In 2018, the organization received a USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) grant and built upon a previous project by bringing together the expertise of a diverse group of eight national and established CSA organizations into a CSA Innovation Network (CSA-IN). The CSA-IN created a Community of Practice which shares research and strategies, assesses technical assistance needs, implements trainings, and provides network-developed resources. As a result, the Fairshare CSA Coalition, in collaboration with CSA-IN partners, has increased sales for the CSA farms in their network from approximately $9 million to $24 million between 2018 and 2021, a 166% increase.
May
Acer Access and Development Program (Acer): This program promotes the domestic maple syrup industry through activities associated with research and education related to maple syrup production, natural resource sustainability in the maple syrup industry, and the marketing of maple syrup and maple-sap products. This program supports two project types: Market Development and Promotion and Producer and Landowner Education. The funding for each project type ranges from $200,000 to $500,000.
Application Deadline: May 28
Micro-Grants for Food Security Program (MSFSP): This program aims to increase the quantity and quality of locally grown food in Alaska, Hawaii, and the U.S. territories. Subaward eligible activities may include small- scale gardening, small- scale herding and livestock operations, and activities to expand access to food and knowledge of food security. Note that the current funding opportunity is for the state and territorial agencies only; subaward opportunities through each participating locality will open at a later date.
Application Deadline: May 28
June
Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program: This program aims to improve the economic condition of rural areas by helping individuals and businesses start, expand or improve rural cooperatives and other mutually-owned businesses through Cooperative Development Centers. Grant funds can be used to operate a Rural Cooperative Development Center that serves eligible rural areas by conducting feasibility studies, developing business plans, and providing leadership and operational improvement training.
Application Deadline: June 3
Socially-Disadvantaged Groups Grant: The primary objective of this grant is to provide technical assistance to socially-disadvantaged groups through cooperatives and Cooperative Development Centers. Grants must be used to provide technical assistance such as, but not limited to, feasibility studies, business plans, strategic planning, and leadership training.
Application Deadline: June 3
July
Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP): This program is a partner-driven approach to conservation that funds regional solutions to natural resource challenges on agricultural land. There are two separate funding opportunities: RCPP Classic and RCPP Alternative Funding Arrangements (AFA). RCPP Classic projects are implemented using Natural Resources Conservation Service contracts and easements with producers, landowners and communities in collaboration with project partners. Through RCPP AFA, the lead partner works directly with agricultural producers to support the development of innovative conservation approaches that would not otherwise be available under RCPP Classic. Learn more through upcoming webinars.
Application Deadline: July 2
Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers (2501 Program): The goal of this program is to encourage and assist underserved farmers and ranchers and military veteran farmers and ranchers with owning and operating farms and ranches and in participating equitably in the full range of programs offered by USDA. Grants are awarded to community-based, non-profit organizations, and eligible tribal entities with at least three years of experience in working with socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers or veteran farmers and ranchers. Individual farmers and ranchers are not eligible to apply for 2501 Program grants.
Application Deadline: July 5
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