Approximately $ 10 million in funding for the USDA ’s Farmers Market Promotion Program will be used to facilitate increase availability oflocal farm productsin communities throughout the U.S.
“ These grants will put resources into rural and urban economies to make and support direct - marketing opportunities for farmers , ” says Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan . “ Consumer and farmer enthusiasm for unmediated selling has never been outstanding . This year , we will place vehemence on solid food comeupance because America ’s low - income and underserved community need capital access to good for you , fresh food for thought . ”
In fiscal year 2011 , USDA ’s Agricultural Marketing Service will competitively present subsidisation to agricultural projects that develop manufacturer - to - consumer market retail store , include but not limited tofarmers ’ markets , community - supported agricultureandroadside stands . precedence status will be granted to those projects that expand healthy food choices in food comeuppance , areas with special entree to affordable and nutritious foods in urban , rural and tribal neighborhood . AMS will remain to target 10 percentage of Ulysses Grant funding toward new electronic benefits - transference projection atfarmers ’ markets .
The USDA , in coordination with the Departments of the Treasury and Health and Human Services , say it seeks to eliminate food deserts in the U.S. by increasing admittance to invigorated , healthy and low-priced nutrient choices for all Americans , while expandingmarket opportunitiesfor granger andranchers . Through a rooms of funding options , the Union partner are targeting intellectual nourishment comeupance . Earlier this year , USDA ’s Economic Research Service release aFood Desert Locatortool online to pinpoint the position of food comeuppance across the country and supply data on population feature of nose count piece of land where resident have limit admission to affordable and nutritious foods .
Because of change to the Farmers Market Promotion Program in fiscal yr 2011 , applicants should chitchat theFMPPwebsite for full item about solid food comeupance and assist in hold . The “ FMPP Pre - software Guide ” also facilitate applicants assess their readiness for put through a federally - fund grant project , and the “ How to go for for an FMPP Grant ” tutorial will guide them through completion of the software .
Since 1994 , thenumber of sodbuster ’ marketslisted in the USDA National Farmers Market Directory has skyrocketed from 1,755 to 6,132 . The directory captures data about where and when farmers ’ markets mesh , if they enter in Union nutrition - benefit programs , and detailed entropy about their seasonality and position .
Complete FMPP applications must be receive — not postmarked — by AMS no later than close of business on July 1 , 2011 . Applications receive after the deadline and incomplete applications programme will not be consider .
For more information , contact in writing : Carmen Humphrey , syllabus director , Farmers Market Promotion Program , AMS , 1400 Independence Ave . , SW , Room 4509 — South Building , Washington , D.C. 20250 ; call 202 - 720 - 8317 ; or fax 202 - 690 - 0031 .
