Fruit, vegetable and flower farmers in iowa face substantial challenges

The Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service awarded a Cooperative Agreement to ASG Department Of Agriculture for $237,100 on September 30, 2025, under the Micro-Grants for Food Security Program (CFDA 10.179).

The award funds increased production and distribution of locally grown food in food-insecure communities across American Samoa. The program purpose is to increase the quantity and quality of locally grown food through small-scale gardening, herding, and livestock operations in food-insecure communities with significant import dependence. ASG Department Of Agriculture, the territorial agricultural agency of American Samoa, serves as the eligible prime recipient and competitive subaward distributor under the program structure.

Performance runs through September 29, 2029, with place of performance across United States territory. The Micro-Grants for Food Security Program permits awards up to three years in length; this agreement extends to four years, suggesting a one-year extension was approved by AMS. Subaward recipients may include individuals, tribal organizations, faith-based organizations, food banks, food pantries and other nonprofits, federally funded educational facilities, and local governments located within eligible insular territories.

The distribution, risk management and financial tools, products and advisors for specialty crop and local foods are under resourced particularly compared to conventional row crop