USDA awards $52m grants to support organic food producers and local food economies

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced grants to a total of $52m to support the growing organic industry and the local and regional food system.

The grants were authorised through the Agricultural Act of 2014, also known as the 2014 Farm Bill, which includes the Agricultural Marketing Service’s (AMS) Farmers Market Promotion Program and Local Foods Promotion Program, and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) Organic Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) and Community Food Projects (CFP) grant programme.

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said: "Local and regional food systems are one of the pillars of our efforts to revitalise rural economies. Consumers are increasingly demanding more local and organic options.

"Investing in local and regional food systems supports the livelihoods of farmers and ranchers, especially smaller operations, while strengthening economies in communities across the country. Today’s announcements also improve access to fresh, healthy food for millions of Americans."

The US Government’s aim behind introducing the grants is to ensure the strengthening of organic and local and regional food systems through the recruitment and training of farmers, the expansion of economic opportunities and increasing access to healthy foods.

The USDA’s AMS has been working towards expanding marketing through the new Local Food Marketing Promotion Program (LFPP) and the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) and has awarded close to $27m in competitive grants.

AMS administrator Anne Alonzo said: "These farmers market and local food promotion programme grants provide farmers and ranchers around the country with tools to reach consumers, strengthen ties between urban and rural communities, and help meet the growing demand for locally and regionally produced food."

The USDA will award a further $19m in grants to help organic producers and processors to grow and market high-quality organic agricultural products.

The AMS will also be awarding close to $1m to state departments of agriculture, state colleges and universities, which will encourage research projects to address the challenges and opportunities in marketing, transporting, and distributing US projects domestically and internationally.

Approximately 176 projects in 13 states receive funding from FSMIP grants.