This program awards grants that support planning, developing, and implementing farm to school programs that connect students to the sources of their food through education, taste tests, school gardens, field trips, and local food sourcing for school meals.
USDA is partnering with the Urban School Food Alliance to provide trainings and tools to school districts that will help them purchase high quality foods, while keeping costs low. In recent years schools have faced challenges in obtaining healthy foods consistently, efficiently and effectively. This initiative will support schools with school meals procurement, including the development of tools and training.
OCCSP provides cost share assistance to producers and handlers of agricultural products who are obtaining or renewing their certification under the National Organic Program (NOP). Certified operations may receive up to 75 percent of their certification costs paid during the program year, not to exceed $750 per certification scope. Fact sheet here.
The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program is a decentralized competitive grants and education program operating in every state and island protectorate. SARE is divided into four different regions that operate as separate entities and run grant programs for their states.
Funding and grant programs for urban agriculture (USDA assists urban, small-scale, and innovative producers with growing, processing and selling. We provide technical and financial assistance for a variety of growing operations, including community farms and gardens, rooftop, indoor, and vertical farms, and hydroponic, aeroponic, and aquaponic facilities).
Valuable resources and program information about access to capital, land management and conservation practices, managing risk, finding local markets, and other educational resources.
NIFA seeks to reduce the incidence of foodborne illness and provide a safer food supply by supporting research, education, and extension activities addressing current priority issues and multiple disciplines in food safety.
Program provides business training to American Indian producers in the West under the topics of business assistance, agricultural education and technical support.
Health Care Without Harm’s guide, Anchored by health systems: Strategies for health care was released, offering approaches for evaluating, strategizing and operationalizing initiatives to support health care in building equitable relationships that power community health, wealth, and climate resilience.
Access the guide here.
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SARE) Outreach’s newest bulletin, Best Practices for the Sustainable Urban Farm, outlines strategies that urban farmers use to tackle the unique opportunities and challenges associated with urban production.
In 2019, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) established a three-year cooperative agreement with the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) and the National Farm to School Network (NFSN) to develop a farm to school training program for agricultural producers. Using a tiered, train-the-trainer model, the Bringing the Farm to School training program prepares State agencies and other representatives with the knowledge, resources and skills necessary to offer trainings to local producers in their states.
Practice Greenhealth is the leading sustainable health care organization, delivering environmental solutions to more than 1,400 hospitals and health systems in the United States and Canada. They provide information, best practices, and solutions for greening the many facets of the health care industry. Read their recently updated Food Purchasing Standards document to support organizations in navigating the criteria, definitions, certifications and attributes, measures, and strategies to support and evaluate values-based procurement efforts.
Health Care Without Harm’s Food Waste Solutions Toolkit was designed to support health institutions with food waste reduction. With SB 1383 starting January 1, 2024, Tier 2 food generators (including health facilities with an on-site food facility and 100+ beds) will be required to donate the maximum amount of surplus edible food, establish contracts with food recovery organizations, and maintain records of the donations. More information can be found on the CalRecycle website.
The Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance program provides loans and grants to Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) to: To help microenterprises startup and grow through a Rural Microloan Revolving Fund and provide training and technical assistance to microloan borrowers and micro entrepreneurs.
Nonprofits, federally-recognized tribes and institutions of higher education may apply to be a Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs). Businesses located in an eligible area with 10 or fewer full-time employees are eligible to apply for a loan from the MDO as an ultimate recipient.
Application deadlines are on a quarterly basis.
The Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA) and the NASDA Foundation recognized a significant gap in available capital sources for underserved communities trying to start and grow their farm and ranch businesses. In an attempt to learn more about the specific barriers faced by socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, CDFA and the NASDA Foundation collaborated to release the Socially Disadvantaged Farmers & Ranchers Access to Capital Toolkit (2024), which defines how traditional development finance tools can launch and expand access to capital programs to support farmers and ranchers who have historically faced discrimination.
AgPlan is a free business planning tool developed by the University of Vermont, University of Minnesota Center for Farm Financial Management, Clemson University, University of California, and American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association.
This resource helps rural businesses develop a business plan by providing tips, resources, templates, and sample plans related to financial planning, risk management, strategic planning, clarity of vision and goals, legal and regulatory compliance, marketing and promotion, communication and collaboration, and continuous improvement.
The USDA Local and Regional Food Systems Resource Guide (December 2023) provides a list of resources related to technical assistance, grant opportunities, and more in several food system investment areas, including land conservation, processing, production, distribution, food loss and waste reduction and recovery, and more.
The Guide is intended to help stakeholders navigate USDA resources to strengthen local and regional food systems. Stakeholders can use these resources to partner with USDA to address climate change, create more and better market opportunities, support food and nutrition security, and advance racial justice, equity, opportunity and rural prosperity.
Farm Business Management for the Global Majority is providing an 10-week online course series for farmers of Color to develop skills to manage and grow their operations by working collectively to break down the many systemic barriers that keep them from farming or from participating in farmer support programs.
The USDA Risk Management Agency has developed the Whole Farm/Micro Farm Agent List for 2024 Crop Year. The resource lists 1,135 crop insurance agents, in all 50 states, who have experience selling Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) and Micro Farm policies.
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, National Organic Program (NOP) has published an online retail toolkit of consumer-focused, educational resources to highlight the unique value of the organic label. Consumer research shows that consumers do not always understand what the organic label means.
This toolkit was designed for retailers to use in stores and online to educate consumers on what the organic label means and how USDA protects the label. The toolkit will also increase consumer understanding of and trust in the USDA organic seal and label.
The UC ANR Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program hosted a webinar, where a panel of experienced extension professionals and farmers discussed creating meaningful co-learning partnerships in which producers and researchers work together to address sustainability challenges, try out creative ideas, and share information with other producers. Panelists discussed benefits and drawbacks of participatory extension, what personal and professional qualities are needed to make these partnerships successful, what’s in it for the producers and practical tips and suggestions for building successful partnerships, and more.
The 2022 Census of Agriculture provides a complete count of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them. Even small plots of land – whether rural or urban – count if $1,000 or more of such products were raised and sold, or normally would have been sold, during the census year. The Census of Agriculture, taken only once every five years, looks at land use and ownership, operator characteristics, production practices, income and expenditures. For America’s farmers and ranchers, the Census of Agriculture is their voice, their future, and their opportunity.
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service has developed a fact sheet for all producers–farmers, ranchers, fishermen, or other food producers, large or small–on best practices and steps to sell local foods to schools.
The UC Davis Center for Precision Medicine and Data Sciences and UC Agriculture and Natural Resources have developed the report to serve as a resource to assist institutions’ purchasing strategies that support local, sustainable farms. Large institutions such as hospitals, schools, and prisons can play an important role in supporting the sustainability of local farms and food systems by purchasing, cooking and serving large quantities of locally-grown food from farms and ranches using sustainable farming practices. Institutional food services can learn from the experiences of institutions implementing similar programs.
The Agricultural Connection Community, created by the U.S. Department of Labor, provides T collection of workforce information and technical assistance resources that support career services and training for migrant and seasonal farmworkers (MSFW).
Local Food Marketplace and Activate Food Arizona have developed a resource guide to assist businesses in understanding their eligibility and how to best navigate the Online SNAP/EBT implementation process.
The California Alliance for Family Farmers (CAFF) Small Farm Tech Hub has developed a quiz and accompanying resource to help guide small farms in making a strategic decision on adopting e-commerce or online sales.
“Achieving Food System Stability and Well-Being: A New Role in Global Development Finance” researches the interrelationships between food insecurity and food systems in order to best develop solutions and opportunities.
Western Growers its first case study in a series that explores the transformative power of automation in agriculture. This Case Study focuses on Carbon Robotics impacts operations.
USDA’s Local Food Directories make it easy for customers to find fresh local foods available through Agritourism, Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs), Farmers Markets, Food Hubs, and On-Farm Markets. The Directory, which is mobile phone compatible, can be used by market managers to update their market information, and by customers to find nearby markets and specific market items.
The USDA Local Dashboard provides farmers in all 50 states with county specific farming data and USDA resources all in one place. View local farming news from USDA, cattle and other commodity prices, weather forecasts, historical climate data, past storm events, and more. If you’re starting a farm, find contact information for local USDA service centers, coordinators, and state offices. You can also find USDA program information, drought data, and how to sign up for email updates from your state.
The USDA’S Risk Management Agency (RMA) created a directory of crop insurance agents for Specialty and Small-Scale Farmers. The directory provides insurance agents who have experience selling Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) and Micro Farm policies. With 1,135 crop insurance agents listed, providing coverage in all 50 states, the process of finding the “right risk management fit” just got easier.
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has created data visualization tools which allow users to easily spot trends or market changes while also giving users the ability to modify information shown using filters. The Dashboard shows data for quality grades and volumes of movement of livestock, veal, and lamb from 2010-present.
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has created data visualization tools which allow users to easily spot trends or market changes while also giving users the ability to modify information shown using filters. The data tool shows auction transaction prices and volumes of movement pertaining to cattle, sheep, and goats.
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has developed the Cattle Contracts Library to increase market transparency for cattle producers, as well as improve price discovery and to provide enhanced signals to producers with respect to output and better insights regarding market demand and supply for cattle..
The Library requires packers within the reporting threshold to provide contract information for the purchase of cattle, as well as the number of actual and estimated cattle purchases under active contracts. Data is refreshed on a weekly basis.
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has created data visualization tools which allow users to easily spot trends or market changes while also giving users the ability to modify information shown using filters. The Dashboard shows location of livestock and poultry facilities for which the Quality Assessment Division provides grading and certification services for meat, poultry, and shell eggs and contact information by state.
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has created data visualization tools which allow users to easily spot trends or market changes while also giving users the ability to modify information shown using filters. The dashboard displays current list of active trade restrictions on US Shell Egg Exports based on avian disease events.
The USDA Agricultural Transportation Open Data Platform containing numerous agricultural transportation datasets and interactive tools covering rail, truck, barge, ocean vessel, and containers.
The USDA has created dashboard tools to help assist users navigate USDA collected information. The Warehouse and Commodity Management Dashboard provides information about warehouses that are licensed under the United States Warehouse Act (USWA) and/or have an active Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) storage agreement.
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has created data visualization tools which allow users to easily spot trends or market changes while also giving users the ability to modify information shown using filters. The tools show data across a variety of topics. Large amounts of information are displayed in graphical form allowing users to easily spot trends or market changes while also giving users the ability to modify information shown using filters.
USDA Service Centers are locations where you can connect with Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or Rural Development employees for your business needs.
USDA has partnered with Cornell Small Farms Program and Rooted to present a course series, Promise of Urban Agriculture. The courses educate participants through unique video content and materials about topics including, Accessing Urban Land for Farming, Urban Farm Planning and Management, and Sources of Urban Farm Income.
The National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics (June 2024) provides an overview of USDA’s action plan–through objectives and strategic action pathways–to combat food waste by 50% by 2030.
FarmProgress has released a Cover Crop Guide, which provides best management strategies related to the using cover crop, from planning and seeding, to even grazing and termination.
The Network Food Hub Network has released Northwest Food Hub Network – The First Year, a case study report which details first year successes and challenges, as well as a guide to how other food hubs can apply these lessons to form their own networks.
The UC Davis Robert Mondavi Institute for Food and Wine Science hosted an event, Savor: The Dirt-y Solution to Climate Change, which featured key discussions on the successes and challenges of regenerative agriculture, as well as its opportunities to positively impact the environment and grow more nutrient dense foods.
UC SAREP held a panel discussion and Q&A forum on June 18th, with representatives from three food hubs and one food hub network to discuss how their food hubs engage in buying and selling with other food hubs, covering topics including transportation, logistics, pricing, and scaling their operations.
To better support America’s farmers and ranchers, USDA has partnered with tax experts from across the country to connect producers to information and resources related to USDA program payments, asset protection, and the important relationships between federal income taxes and USDA farm programs.
The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) has compiled a spreadsheet listing meat and poultry resources related to grant opportunities, loans, and cost share.
Chico State’s Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems offers a professional course series, Regenerative Agriculture Technical Assistance Certificate Program. The course program trains and supports Technical Assistance Providers (TAPs) and other agricultural professionals to become leaders in systems-based agricultural management.
USDA is offering the Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program, which provides financial assistance to specialty crop operations that have eligible on-farm food safety program expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification. Producers can apply for assistance on their calendar year expenses.
2024 Calendar year application deadline: January 1st, 2025 – January 31st, 2026
The University of Arizona Tribal Extension, University of Nevada Reno, and Utah State University has developed several guidebooks for businesses under FRAME: Fundamental Resources for Agricultural Micro-Entrepreneurs. The guidebooks include:
USDA Livestock Mandatory Reporting has developed the Live Cattle Data Dashboard tool, which provides users the ability to view and access LMR live cattle market information in a manner that is easy to use and understand.
The USDA has developed several cattle reports, such as the National Weekly Direct Slaughter Cattle Report – Formulated and Forward Contract which reports actual net premiums and discounts paid to cattle producers by packers under formula marketing arrangements.
The USDA has developed several cattle reports, such as the National Weekly Fed Cattle Comprehensive Report, which provides detailed quality grade price distribution information.
Practice Greenhealth’s Food Purchasing guidance provides assistance in food procurement strategies, recommendations and best practices to help institutions align food purchasing with goals around sustainability, local economies, and social equity.
Farmer Campus is hosting a self-paced course exploring how to build climate resilience for all agriculturists.
The Food System Financing Strategy report focuses on three inter-related categories of funding pathways which provide orientation for the findings of this report: municipal finance tools, federal and state grants, and philanthropic fund models. While the latter two are familiar revenue sources for food systems partners, municipal finance tools represent an under-utilized pathway. As the field and framing of local economic development is increasingly being leveraged to bolster food systems revitalization in the post-COVID landscape, particularly in federal initiatives, municipal finance tools represent a unique opportunity for generating resources.
As such, this report takes a closer look at the range of tools available to local governments who were called upon to play a more active and systematic role in the food system, as their investments can improve community health and wellbeing while driving economic growth and opportunity.
USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is excited to announce new resources to support small and mid-sized meat processors, Empowering Local and Regional Meat Processing. USDA in partnership with Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI), worked with industry stakeholders to develop various materials relevant to small and mid-sized meat processors nationwide, including a resource database, funding sources guide, a series of short courses, and reports that examine industry needs, common financial barriers faced by processors, and byproduct and animal hide utilization.
The University of Arizona Tribal Extension, University of Nevada Reno, and Utah State University has develop this guidebook under FRAME: Fundamental Resources for Agricultural Micro-Entrepreneurs.
The Livestock Operations Workbook provides several questions that should be asked before starting a tribal livestock operation. Even if you are not intending to start for a while, this workbook can be used to start developing your plan. Each question is accompanied by some explanation and then provides a place to write down your plan and also, what is your next step to develop your plan further, as well as an example to help formulate own answers.
The University of Arizona Tribal Extension, University of Nevada Reno, and Utah State University has develop this guidebook under FRAME: Fundamental Resources for Agricultural Micro-Entrepreneurs.
The “Are You Ready to Start a Business on the Reservation?” Tribal Checklist provides assistance to entrepreneurs on navigating through considerations on if they are ready to start their business.
The University of Arizona Tribal Extension, University of Nevada Reno, and Utah State University has develop this guidebook under FRAME: Fundamental Resources for Agricultural Micro-Entrepreneurs.
Food businesses can be broadly grouped as Food Service businesses (catering, food trucks, restaurants) and Packaged Foods businesses (bakeries and foods that are sold in sealed bottles, boxes, or bags). The Guidebook provides questions and issues entrepreneurs need to consider for these types of food businesses, and plan a Packaged Food business in your home kitchen.
Effective systems for organizing product information are essential to producers and aggregators in local and regional food systems, especially those operating at the wholesale level. This USDA project provides a template for utilizing data guidelines that will increase the consistency of fresh produce product data across the local foods sector.
Led by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) program helps farmers, ranchers and forest landowners integrate conservation into working lands.
NRCS one-on-one with producers to develop a conservation plan that outlines conservation practices and activities to help solve on-farm resource issues. Producers implement practices and activities in their conservation plan that can lead to cleaner water and air, healthier soil and better wildlife habitat, all while improving their agricultural operations. EQIP helps producers make conservation work for them.
Led by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) helps producers build on existing conservation efforts, such as improve grazing conditions, increase crop resiliency, or develop wildlife habitat, while strengthening operations.
NRCS works one-on-one with producers to develop a conservation plan that outlines and enhances existing efforts, using new conservation practices or activities, based on management objectives for your operation. Producers implement practices and activities in their conservation plan that expands on the benefits of cleaner water and air, healthier soil and better wildlife habitat, all while improving their agricultural operations.
The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) helps landowners, land trusts, and other entities protect, restore, and enhance wetlands or protect working farms and ranches through conservation easements. ACEP protects the agricultural viability and related conservation values of eligible land by limiting nonagricultural uses which negatively affect agricultural uses and conservation values, protect grazing uses and related conservation values by restoring or conserving eligible grazing land, and protecting and restoring and enhancing wetlands on eligible land.
Debido a que las granjas y ranchos de todo el mundo son increíblemente diversos, no existe un enfoque único para la sostenibilidad: lo que funciona en una operación puede variar de una operación a otra. Sin embargo, en esta publicación identificaremos algunas de las prácticas más comunes que pueden mejorar la sostenibilidad de todas las granjas, y compartiremos ejemplos de cómo los productores de todo el país las están utilizando.
The USDA Farm to School Census highlights data from the academic year 2022-23, from 11,803 school food authorities in all 50 states, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C.
The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation (FTPF) is an award-winning international nonprofit charity dedicated to planting fruitful trees and plants to alleviate world hunger, combat global warming, strengthen communities, and improve the surrounding air, soil, and water. FTPF programs strategically donate orchards where the harvest will best serve communities for generations, at places such as community gardens, public schools, city/state parks, low-income neighborhoods, Native American reservations, international hunger relief sites, and animal sanctuaries
Application deadline: rolling
The USDA FNS has made available an interactive Nutrition Education and Local Food Access Dashboard. The goal of the dashboard is to provide a county-level visualization of FNS nutrition support, specifically nutrition education and local food access, alongside other metrics related to hunger and nutritional health. It includes visualizations of data points like farmers’ markets and intensity of farm to school participation.
The Interagency Community Investment Committee Small Business Resource Guides, developed by the U.S. Department of Treasury, provide information on federally available small business resources. Over 55 programs are represented, which help small businesses with: Access to capital, including loans and equity investments to grow their business; access to customers, by helping connect businesses to contracting opportunities with the federal government; access to technical assistance, by connecting businesses with local service providers that can help them secure financing, compete for contracts, and navigate all phases of the business lifecycle; access to tax resources, by ensuring small businesses are aware of federal tax credits, including new tax credits, deductions, and incentives available through the Inflation Reduction Act.
U.S. Department of Agriculture has launched a new online portal to manage civil rights discrimination complaints more efficiently and transparently. The USDA Civil Rights Management System Program (CRMS) Discrimination Complaint electronic submission portal will streamline the filing of complaints by USDA customers who believe they have experienced discrimination when they apply for USDA services or participate in USDA programs or USDA-funded programs. The portal is administered by USDA’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.
Funding is available to conduct multi-faceted trainings and networking projects for people and businesses in local/regional meat systems. Businesses served may be for-profit, not-for-profit, or social service based.
Deliverables may include face-to-face trainings, networking and educational conferences, and multi-media educational products that address the following:
Applicants may include: secondary, postsecondary, and outreach institutions; trade associations; and partnered non-governmental organizations and consultancies. Applicants should have access to the necessary facilities to conduct the proposed activity, including but not limited to: meat laboratories, commercial kitchens, processing plants/facilities, classrooms, or conference facilities.
Application period is ongoing; funding applications must be submitted at least 3 months (you may inquire about shorter-term needs) prior to the date of the proposed training activity. Applications must be approved before training begins
The Water & Waste Disposal Technical Assistance & Training grant program helps qualified, private nonprofits provide technical assistance and training to identify and evaluate solutions to water and waste problems; helps applicants prepare applications for water and waste disposal loans/grants; and helps associations improve the operation and maintenance of water and waste facilities in eligible rural areas.
Eligible projects include: identify and evaluate solutions to water problems related to source, storage, treatment, distribution, collection, treatment and disposal; provide technical assistance and training to improve management, operations and maintenance of water and waste disposal systems; and prepare water and waste disposal loan and grant applications.
Eligible applicant: Nonprofits that have the proven ability, background, experience and capacity to provide technical assistance or training on a national, regional or state basis.
Application period: Annually, October 1st-December 31st
The Road to Successful Menu Planning for School Meals Training Series helps schools plan and implement school nutrition standards. The new 15-minute training covers identifying top sources of added sugars in school menus! This training series includes quarterly 1-hour live (and recorded) webinars co-hosted with the Institute of Child Nutrition and short, on-demand training. Both are designed to provide school nutrition professionals with quick tips, tools, and knowledge to meet the nutrition standards for added sugars and sodium through School Year 2027-2028.
Community Alliance with Family Farmers has developed The Farmer’s Guide to Organic Wholesale Pricing, primarily written for certified organic and/or transitioning produce farmers who are pricing produce crops for wholesale sales. The information and methods can be adapted to other agricultural products (ex. dairy, meat, and value added products) and sales channels.
USDA has released a Consumer Food Insights Report that provides insight into consumer engagement for the Southwest Center (AZ, CA, NV & UT) by analyizing local and regional food market usage in 2022 & 2023.
The Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program assists approved lenders in providing low- and moderate-income households the opportunity to own adequate, modest, decent, safe and sanitary dwellings as their primary residence in eligible rural areas. Eligible applicants may purchase, build, rehabilitate, improve or relocate a dwelling in an eligible rural area with 100% financing.
Application period is open all year round.
The Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grant provides loans to very-low-income homeowners to repair, improve or modernize their homes or grants to elderly very-low-income homeowners to remove health and safety hazards. Maximum loan is $40,000 and maximum grant is $10,000. Loans are terms for 20 years at a fixed rate of 1%, but must be repaid if property is sold in less than 3 years.
Application period is open all year round.
This program provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage to households and businesses in eligible rural areas.
Funds may be used to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of: drinking water sourcing, treatment, storage and distribution; sewer collection, transmission, treatment and disposal; solid waste collection, disposal and closure; storm water collection, transmission and disposal.
In some cases, funding may also be available for related activities such as: legal and engineering fees; land acquisition, water and land rights, permits and equipment; start-up operations and maintenance; interest incurred during construction; purchase of facilities to improve service or prevent loss of service; other costs determined to be necessary for completion of the project.
Application period is open all year round.
Created by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), the Guide provides an in-depth look at the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), a comprehensive, whole farm advanced conservation assistance program at USDA. It is designed to be a practical resource to help farmers, ranchers, and foresters and the technical assistance organizations who support them to prepare and apply for CSP grants.
Created by the Food Corridor, The Shared Kitchen Toolkit (2nd Edition) is a comprehensive resource designed to assist entrepreneurs and organizations in establishing and managing shared commercial kitchens. It offers in-depth insights into various kitchen models—including shared commercial kitchens, incubator kitchens, community kitchens, and ghost kitchens—and explores the latest industry trends driving their growth. The Toolkit provides practical advice on business model design, community programming, service planning, market research, pricing strategies, financial management, funding options, regulatory compliance, facility design, and member recruitment. By addressing these critical aspects, the toolkit aims to foster successful and sustainable shared kitchen operations that contribute to local food innovation and community development.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, announces this funding opportunity to support the Market Access Program (MAP) by issuing new awards. This opportunity is available to nonprofit U.S. agricultural trade organizations, nonprofit state regional trade groups (SRTGs), U.S. agricultural cooperatives, and state agencies and is intended to foster expanded exports and market diversification by encouraging the development, maintenance, and expansion of diverse commercial export markets for United States agricultural commodities and products.
Application deadline: June 6th, 2025
ECAP provides a one-time economic assistance payment to help agricultural producers mitigate the impacts of increased input costs and falling commodity prices. Eligible commodities include: barley, chickpeas, corn, cotton, lentils, oats, peanuts, peas, rice, sorghum, soybeans, wheat, canola, crambe, flax, mustard, rapseed, safflower, sesame, and sunflower.
Deadline: August 15th, 2025
California FarmLink is offering a course on “Evaluating & Supporting Farmer, Rancher, and Fisher Clients.” The course is oriented to small business service providers who are highly motivated to enhance strategic guidance for their agricultural and fishing clients. The 4-week course meets virtually on Wednesday from 12-2 PST.
Topics will include: business entity selection, accounting, tax implications unique to small farms and ranches; assessing and securing land tenure, credit management, regulatory compliance and other risk mitigation strategies. Attendees get access to our “FAQ” on applying the Resilience Self-Assessment as a tool to support your work.
Sign up by May 16th.
The California Farmlink tax toolshed resource folder is an educational toolkit designed to help farmers, ranchers, and fishers prepare for tax season. Recognizing the specialized nature of agricultural businesses, this resource equips producers with the tools and knowledge needed to confidently approach their tax preparer and effectively answer questions about their unique operations.
The Economic Development District (EDD) Tribal Engagement microsite provides a variety of resources for EDDs looking to build or expand their working relationships with Tribal governments and Tribal enterprises, including tips from EDDs who have been there before, case studies, webinar recordings, and more. These resources are designed to support stronger partnerships, deepen understanding, and foster meaningful collaboration between EDDs and Tribal governments to promote shared prosperity and resilience.
Developed by Farm Commons, this resource is written for farmers and ranchers nationwide who have a signed contract with the USDA but have concerns that their contract is frozen, under review, or terminated, and who are uncertain of their rights to receive reimbursement as well as their ongoing obligations under the signed contract.
The USDA Local Food Promotion Program grant funds projects that develop and expand local and regional food business enterprises that engage as intermediaries in indirect producer to consumer marketing such as shared-use kitchens, food hubs, and food incubators.
Navigate whether this funding opportunity supports your project using the USDA LAMP toolkit: https://www.ams.usda.gov/content/ams-lamp-grant-toolkits-application-support-page
Application Deadline: June 27th, 2025
The USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program grant funds projects that develop, coordinate, and expand direct producer-to-consumer markets such as farmers markets, roadside stands, agritourism activities, community-supported agriculture programs (CSA), or online sales.
Navigate whether this funding opportunity supports your project using the USDA LAMP toolkit: https://www.ams.usda.gov/content/ams-lamp-grant-toolkits-application-support-page
Application Deadline: June 27th, 2025
The USDA Regional Food System Partnerships grant supports public-private partnerships that plan and develop relationships between local and regional producers, processors, intermediaries, and institutional markets or institutional food service operations.
Navigate whether this funding opportunity supports your project using the USDA LAMP toolkit: https://www.ams.usda.gov/content/ams-lamp-grant-toolkits-application-support-page
Application Deadline: June 27th, 2025
The Salad Bars to Schools grant program with the mission of donating salad bars to U.S. schools to allow kids to have daily access to fresh fruits and vegetables.
The Salad Bars to Schools grant includes salad bar equipment and access to salad bar specific training modules available through Chef Ann Foundation’s School Food Institute.
Application is open year round.
The Southwest Regional Food Business Center is part of the USDA Regional Food Business Centers Program. Contact us at info@swfoodbiz.org or (530) 236-7360
