Description
The Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) is a grant program that 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. The program focuses on several key areas, including supporting and promoting domestic direct producer-to-consumer marketing, encouraging the development of value-added agricultural products, and developing marketing strategies for producers of local food and value-added products. The program offers four project types: Capacity Building, Community Development Training and Technical Assistance, Turnkey Marketing and Promotion, and Turnkey Recruitment and Training. Eligible applicants include a variety of entities, such as agricultural cooperatives, producer networks, and community-supported agriculture programs. The program requires a 25% match of the total project cost, and the maximum award amount is $500,000.
Some key features of the program include:
• 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
• Covering expenses related to costs incurred in obtaining food safety certification and improvements to food safety practices and equipment