The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Business Cooperative Services awarded a $250,000 Project Grant under the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (CFDA 10.175) to Mid-Atlantic Milk And Meat Collective LLC (M3 Collective) on September 15, 2023. This grant will fund initiatives to develop, coordinate, and expand direct producer-to-consumer marketing channels and local/regional food business enterprises over a 24-month project period ending on September 15, 2025. Planned activities include supporting farmers markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture programs, agritourism, online sales platforms, food processing and distribution, marketing strategies, business planning, and food safety improvements to increase access to and availability of locally produced agricultural products, encourage value-added product development, facilitate regional food chain coordination, and promote new business opportunities to reduce on-farm food waste.
Generated 8/6/24, 6:38 AM