Farmers Market Promotion Program

Background
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), is requesting applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2023 Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP). The program aims to support the development, coordination, and expansion of direct producer-to-consumer markets to increase access to and availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products. Approximately $15.4 million is available to fund FMPP applications under this solicitation.

Grant Details
FMPP funds projects that develop, coordinate, and expand direct producer-to-consumer markets. This includes supporting and promoting domestic direct producer-to-consumer marketing, encouraging the development of value-added agricultural products, developing marketing strategies for producers of local food and value-added products, facilitating regional food chain coordination development, promoting new business opportunities and marketing strategies to reduce on-farm food waste, responding to changing technology needs in direct producer-to-consumer marketing, and covering expenses related to costs incurred in obtaining food safety certification and improvements to food safety practices and equipment.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible entities include agricultural businesses or cooperatives, producer networks or associations, CSA networks or associations, food policy councils, local governments, nonprofit corporations, public benefit corporations, corporations organized to construct or operate a public improvement, economic development corporations, regional farmers market authorities, tribal governments. Applicants must be domestic entities owned, operated, and located within the 50 United States or its territories.

Period of Performance
The award period duration varies by project type: Capacity Building projects have a duration of 36 months; Community Development Training and Technical Assistance projects have a duration of 36 months; Turnkey Marketing and Promotion projects have a duration of 24 months.

Grant Value
Approximately $15.4 million is available to fund applications in FY 2023. Funding may be contingent on Federal appropriations actions. The award size varies by project type: Capacity Building projects range from $50,000 to $250,000; Community Development Training and Technical Assistance projects range from $100,000 to $500,000; Turnkey Marketing and Promotion projects range from $50,000 to $100,000.

Place of Performance
Projects must be implemented within the 50 United States or its territories.