1. Work with USDA-AMS to complete the project in the defined timeline. 2. Keep the USDA-AMS apprised of all developments of the project. 3. Maintain the local food directories platform/website. 4.…

This Cooperative Agreement award, provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA AMS) under the Wholesale Farmers and Alternative Market Development program (CFDA 10.164), supports Michigan State University in maintaining and enhancing the USDA Local Food Directories platform. The key services to be delivered under this $149,600 award, with a performance period from August 2024 to August 2026, include:

Maintaining the Local Food Directories website and listings management system, performing annual web scraping to update the directories, assisting organizations in uploading and standardizing their local food listings, conducting data analysis and research support for AMS on local food and direct marketing issues, and refining platform features as requested. The award also requires the university to provide quarterly progress reports and maintain confidentiality of USDA AMS data.

1. Work with USDA-AMS to complete the project in the defined timeline. 2. Keep the USDA-AMS apprised of all developments of the project. 3. Maintain the local food directories platform/website. 4. Maintain the bulk update listings system and assist state and large organizations in uploading their listings to the USDA local food directories platform 5. Perform annual web scraping for farmers market, agritourism, CSA, food hubs, and on-farm markets. 6. Conduct data analysis and provide research support for local food/direct marketing issues based on AMS's requests. 7. Refine and enhance minor platform features as requested. 8. Facilitate associations to update their listings using batch upload function by request. Assist associations /large organizations in verifying, cleaning up, and standardizing the dataset to align with the USDA local food directory's data fields and format. 10. Use web-scraping function to acquire local food entities information for all directories. 11. Assist other local food research teams, such as agritourism research teams, with their research. 12. Maintain confidentiality, use the data provided only for the purposes of this project, and ensure that USDA AMS reviews all proposed publications. USDA AMS shall have sixty (60) days after receipt of a manuscript to object to such proposed publication, either because the manuscript contains confidential information belonging to USDA AMS or because the manuscript contains patentable subject matter that requires protection. The author of the manuscript shall delete USDA AMS's confidential information from the manuscript prior to submitting IT for publication. 13. Keep up-to-date records on the project; submit quarterly progress reports to the federal agency.