The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will make available $96.8 million in grants to fund innovative projects designed to support specialty crop producers, local food entrepreneurs and farm to school efforts. The aim is to increase access to healthy, nutritious food for American families and children, according to a USDA news release.
The grant programs administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) include the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP), the Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP) and the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program which covers two types of grants: the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) and the Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP). Also included is the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Farm to School Grant Program, designed to bring local foods into the school cafeteria.
SCBGP grant applications in Texas should apply at the Texas Department of Agriculture and must be submitted by March 24. Grant applications for FSMIP, FMPP and LFPP must be submitted electronically through www.Grants.gov by May 14, 2015.
Also, the USDA will make changes in the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) to help increase access to the program for beginning, limited-resource and other producers who do not have risk protection available through crop insurance products. Many of these producers grow fruits, vegetables and other specialty crops. USDA’s Farm Service Agency implements the NAP program.