USDA Funding Available for Farmer's Markets

Foodies, do you think it is about time a farmer's market opened up near you? Well, it may not be a total pipe dream, with the creation two years ago of the Farmer's Market Promotion Program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The program will probably be extended this year if the new budget is approved, with funding of as much as $75,000 being awarded to eligible entities, with a total allocated across all fifty states of $1 million.

"Farmers markets are increasingly becoming a larger and more integral part of our rural and urban communities," former Acting Secretary Chuck Conner said in October 2007. "We support this community spirit that helps increase farmer revenues, and provides consumers with fresh, local farm products."

"Eligible entities" include: 1) Agricultural Cooperatives; 2) Local government; 3) Nonprofit corporations; 4) Public Benefit corporations; 5) Economic Development Authorities; 6) Regional Farmer's Market Authorities; and 7) Tribal Authorities.

There are some catches (aren't there always?). Your organization must be located within one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia. Other U.S. territories are not eligible (think Guam or Puerto Rico). The money can't be used to acquire land, or pay for repair, rehabilitation, acquisition, or construction of a building or facility.

The purpose of the program is to promote the domestic consumption of agricultural commodities by expanding direct producer-to-consumer marketing opportunities. Or, in other words, to help farmers who grow food locally to sell it locally, from field to your table.

Examples of direct producer-to-consumer market opportunities that may be funded by the FMPP include projects that address issues related to farmers markets, roadside stands, community supported agriculture programs, and other direct producer-to consumer marketing channels. Translation: Find out how the heck we get people to know about the farmer's market in our town, and then find out how we get farmer's to participate and sell their stuff direct.

Last year the USDA only allocated $900,000 of the million dollars available, and spread out the grants over 16 states in 19 programs.

Perhaps one of the most innovative programs funded in 2007, but which hardly seems in the spirit of the thing, was a program in Hagerman, Idaho to develop a way for local producers to sell their products via the Internet, to the tune of $60,294. The big winner in last year's awards was Missouri, with a grant of $70,150 to help promote farmer's markets in 10 central Missouri counties.

For more information and to download the application forms, visit the USDA's web site.