Rep. Kaptur Heralds USDA Announcement of $90 Million Available for Local Food Systems and Specialty Crop Producers

Press Release

Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-9) today heralded the announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) which has made more than $90 million available in competitive grants to help strengthen local and regional food systems, develop new market opportunities for producers, and support farmers growing fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, flowers and nursery crops (known collectively as specialty crops). These grants programs are administered by USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and include the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program, and the Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program.

"This is welcome news, as these opportunities for funding can help efforts to encourage healthy eating and support local food production," said Rep. Kaptur. "Northern Ohio produces ample amounts of fresh, healthy, delicious food. These federal initiatives will help strengthen the connection between the food we grow and the way our community feeds itself. That also means getting food that lasts longer on our shelves and in our refrigerators, and using less fuel to ship that food."

More than $62 million is allocated in grants to U.S. states and territories through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program for projects supporting specialty crop growers through research and programs to increase demand. Kaptur urges interested applicants to apply directly through the Ohio Department of Agriculture, which administers Ohio's competitive grant process: Ohio Department of Agriculture, ATTN: Lori Panda, Senior Program Manager, Phone: (614) 466-8798 or email Panda@agri.ohio.gov. A summary of Specialty Crop efforts may be found at www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/scbgp. State departments of agriculture must submit their applications to AMS by July 6, 2016.

USDA data show that specialty crop sales exceed $83 billion per year. Since 2009, the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program has supported these growers by investing nearly $393 million into more than 5,400 projects.

The Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program provide a combined total of over $26 million in competitive grants, divided equally between the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) and the Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP).

USDA's investments in farmers markets and other direct-to-consumer local food marketing activities through FMPP have provided $60 million in assistance for over 900 projects nationwide since 2009. LFPP has funded over 350 projects totaling nearly $25 million since it launched in 2014.

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