3. Agricultural Marketing Service Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) www.ams.usda.gov/FMPP Farmers Market Promotion Program (Rev. March 2011)
4. Agricultural Marketing Service The FMPP is a competitive grant program to help establish, promote, and expand direct producer-to-consumer market opportunities of domestic agricultural products and agritourism. The FMPP has a budget of $10 million per year for FY 2011 and FY012. Farmers Market Promotion Program (Rev. March 2011)
12. Tribal and local governments* Producer networks and producer associations were added in the 2008 Farm Bill. Farmers Market Promotion Program (Rev. March 2011)
25. How to Apply for an FMPP Grant Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service Marketing Services Division 1800 M Street, NW Room 3012 – South Tower Washington, DC 20036-5802 202.694.4000
27. Agricultural Marketing Service Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program www.ams.usda.gov/FSMIP Farmers Market Promotion Program (Rev. March 2011)
28. Agricultural Marketing Service Funding Specialty Crop Block Grant Program www.ams.usda.gov/SCBGP Farmers Market Promotion Program (Rev. March 2011)
29. Agricultural Marketing Service Find your State Department of Agriculture at www.ams.usda.gov/SCBGP (see “State Contacts”) Farmers Market Promotion Program (Rev. March 2011)
30. Agricultural Marketing Service National Organic Program http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/nop Farmers Market Promotion Program (Rev. March 2011)
31. Sixth Street Market – Richmond, Virginia Farmers Market Promotion Program (Rev. March 2011)
32. Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Within USDA, Deputy Secretary Merriganhas initiated a “national conversation” on how to develop local and regional food systems and spur economic opportunity. Farmers Market Promotion Program (Rev. March 2011)
33. Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food In support of this effort and leveraging of collective resources of the Department, Deputy Secretary Merrigan oversees a task force with representatives from every USDA agency working on: Farmers Market Promotion Program (Rev. March 2011)
39. Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food USDA supports local and regional foods systems with a range of assistance programs across agencies… Farmers Market Promotion Program (Rev. March 2011)
40. Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food www.usda.gov/documents/KnowYourFarmerandAMS.PDF www.usda.gov/documents/KnowYourFarmerandRD.pdf www.usda.gov/documents/KnowYourFarmerandREE.pdf www.usda.gov/documents/KnowYourFarmerand FSA.pdf http://kyf.blogs.usda.gov/files/2011/01/NRCS-Memo.pdf Farmers Market Promotion Program (Rev. March 2011)
41. Farmers Market Promotion Program For more information contact: Alicia Bell-Sheeter Agricultural Communications Specialist Alicia.Bell-Sheeter@ams.usda.gov 202.694.4009
Editor's Notes
Encouraging the development, promotion, and expansion of direct-to-consumer marketing and increased consumption of domestic agricultural products.Type: Competitive GrantsMax Award: $100,000 (no matching funds required)Big Idea: An annual, competitive grant program to promote consumption of domestic agricultural commodities by developing, expanding, and promoting direct producer-to-consumer marketing opportunities. These non-construction grants target improvements and expansion of domestic farmers’ markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture programs, agri-tourism activities, and other direct producer-to-consumer market opportunities. Who can apply: Agricultural cooperatives and producer networks and associations (may be for-profit), economic development corporations, local government, nonprofits, public benefit corporations, regional famers’ market authorities, and Tribal governments in the 50 States and the District of Columbia. Individuals and projects located in U.S. Territories are not eligible to apply. Possibilities: This flexible program funds a wide range of activities, such as advertising and market promotion of your direct-market outlet, consumer education and outreach, equipment purchase, transportation and delivery, waste management and green technologies, training farmers in business planning, rules, and regulations, and market start-up, expansion and strategic planning.
Virginia$68,906 to Appalachian Sustainable Development, Abingdon, VA, to increase participation in 12 regional farmers markets by training and mentoring new farmers, purchasing EBT equipment to attract poverty-level and underserved consumers, and implementing promotional events for these markets. $82,856 to the Western Virginia Workforce Development Board, Roanoke, VA, to 1) purchase a mobile teaching kitchen, 2) conduct 14 farmer/vendor training sessions on business development, production and profitability, and certifications and logistics, 3) conduct 7 consumer classes on cooking with local produce, canning, farmers market affordability, and food safety, and 4) purchase print advertising.
$10,645 to the Agricultural Development Office, County of Halifax, VA, to: 1) provide bi-weekly consumer-based educational program at the Downtown South Boston Farmers Market for new and existing vendors and customers; 2) purchase equipment that will enhance market operations; 3) improve market visibility through promotional activities and an advertising campaign involving churches, local social services offices, and the health department.$95,779 to Appalachian Sustainable Development to expand and strengthen the Appalachian Farmers Market Association in a comprehensive program of training, technical assistance, support for vendors and market leaders, development of emerging farmers markets in limited wealth communities and expansion of EBT from one to at least three farmers markets in this rural Appalachian region. $77,653 to The Highland Center, Monterey, VA, to 1) undertake market assessments and create improvement plans, 2) provide 8 training workshops for farmers market managers on market oversight and direct marketing and for market vendors and farmers on business planning and direct marketing to increase profits for farmers in 4 counties in Virginia and West Virginia.
Addressing barriers, challenges, and opportunities in marketing, transporting, and distributing U.S. food and agricultural productsType: Matching Funds for State Departments of Agriculture and other State agencies - States often re-grant, see your State Department of Agriculture for more informationMax Award: $1.334 million (plus state matching funds)Big Idea: Funds are used to explore barriers, challenges, and opportunities in marketing, transporting, and distributing food and agricultural products (including forestry, nursery, and biomass).Who can apply: State Departments of Agriculture, but they often re-grant to local organizations, so see your State Department of Agriculture website for more information.Possibilities: Given the broad flexibility of this program there are nearly endless possibilities for projects, such as building an online marketing tool or assisting hospital food services with local sourcing. Examples include using Web-based technology to foster an effective regional food system; to identify factors that explain why some farmers markets succeed and others fail; to develop a collaborative cluster of bakers to work on new product development with the region’s growers and millers.
To solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Specialty crops are defined as “fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture).”Type: Block Grants (go directly to individual State Departments of Agriculture)Max Award: Varies by stateBig Idea: States administer grant programs to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops (fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, horticulture, flowers). As part of our "Growing Local Food Initiatives," many projects involve grant money to market locally-grown foods.Who can apply: State Departments of Agriculture, but they often re-grant to local organizations, so see your State Department of Agriculture website for more information.Possibilities: Organic outreach/education program to current and potential specialty crop producers who are interested in becoming certified as organic producers,Garden-Enhanced Nutrition Education (GENE) grants to 100 child care/pre-school sites for garden equipment, supplies, and professional development. Partner with Resource Conservation and Development Councils to educate individuals on how to properly grow, prepare, and preserve fruits and vegetables. Provide specialty crop nutrition and health outreach and education to current and future farmers’ market customers.
Apply for SCBGP pass-through grants through your State Department of Agriculture.