Project Grant AM180100XXXXG136

The Ugrow, Inc., DBA The Food Mill, was awarded a $933,000 Project Grant from the US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service under the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program. The Food Mill will activate components of its food and wellness hub in Columbus, Georgia to support markets for local producers and small food businesses and improve access for food insecure individuals. Specifically, the organization will launch a food hub and indoor farmers market open six days a...

Equiti Foods, LLC will use a $317,174 Project Grant from the US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service under the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program to develop local and regional food systems in North Carolina. Equiti Foods will purchase excess and grade B produce from small farmers to produce frozen "Good Bowls" meals based on the Mediterranean diet. The company will partner with local commercial kitchens to produce the meals, creating economic...

The Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded $706,008 under the Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program to Mandela Partners for the Ashland Community Kitchen Initiative in Oakland, California. The initiative will transform a 623 square foot space into a culturally relevant commercial kitchen to increase access to sustainably grown produce and production capacity for limited-resource food entrepreneurs. Specifically, Mandela Marketplace will...

The Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service awarded Planting Justice $703,025 under the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program to establish new market access opportunities for small local growers in the Bay Area through September 2024. The project will operate a farmers' market truck serving stops in Oakland and Richmond, establishing market access for at least five growers and serving an estimated 15,600 customers annually. A weekly farmers' market will also be...

The Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service awarded North Coast Opportunities, Inc. a $834,825 Project Grant under the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program to support the MendolaKe Food Hub. The Food Hub aims to broaden the customer base, conduct community outreach, expand geographical reach, and offer additional products for small-scale farmers in Lake and Mendocino Counties, California impacted by economic hardships, wildfires, and drought. Key deliverables...

The Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service awarded Foodshed Cooperative Inc. a $564,500 Project Grant under the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program. Foodshed will transition its emergency food distribution operations implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic to a sustainable model increasing retail sales 25% annually. Funding will support planning with Foodshed's farmer network to achieve aggregation goals and improve distribution capacity at its Central San Diego...

The Common Market Georgia, Incorporated was awarded a $828,602.40 Project Grant from the US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service under the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (FMLFPP) to expand its farm-to-institution model in Georgia and Alabama. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit local food distributor founded in 2016, Common Market connects communities to sustainable family farms in the Southeast through its wholesale food distribution services. It sources fresh produce,...

The Northside Farmers Market (NFM) in Ohio received a $199,327.78 Project Grant award from the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service under the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (FMLFPP). Through this funding, NFM will deliver several services to increase food access, support farmers and food producers, and build organizational capacity. Key initiatives include an outreach and marketing campaign to attract more regular customers, incentives and...

The Alameda County Deputy Sheriffs' Activities League Inc. (DSAL) received a $946,156.25 Project Grant award from the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service under the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (FMLFPP) to implement the Building Collective Strength: Alameda County Small Farm Collective project. The project aims to increase access to regionally produced fruits and vegetables for the approximately 180,930 residents of Alameda County,...

Augusta Locally Grown Inc. received a $249,210 Project Grant award from the US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service under the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program. The grant will fund a feasibility study and implementation plan to establish a 35,000 square foot food hub facility known as "The Hub" in Georgia. The Hub aims to connect local producers to consumers through innovative sales opportunities developed in partnership with farmers, educators,...