Federal State Marketing Improvement Program – As a matching grant program, the Federal State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP), provides matching funds to State Departments of Agriculture and other appropriate State agencies to assist in exploring new market opportunities for food and agricultural products, and to encourage research and innovation aimed at improving the efficiency and performance of the marketing system

Contact:

Janise Zygmont, Staff Officer

janise.zygmont@ams.usda.gov | 202.720.5024

Specialty Crop Block Grant Program – Specialty crop block grant funds can be requested to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Specialty crops are defined as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and nursery crops (including floriculture).

Contact:

Trista Etzig, Director, Grants Division

Trista.Etzig@ams.usda.gov | 202.720.8356

Specialty Crop Multi-State Program –

The Agricultural Act of 2014 (Farm Bill) included funds for multi-state projects that solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops involving food safety, plant pests and disease, research, crop-specific projects addressing common issues, and any other area as determined by the Secretary. No-year funding of $1 million was authorized in 2014, increasing $1 million per fiscal year to $5 million in 2018 for this program.

Contact:

Janise Zygmont, Program Manager

janise.zygmont@ams.usda.gov | 202.720.5024

The Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program – The 2014 Farm Bill reauthorized the Farmers Market Promotion Program to fund farmer-to-consumer direct marketing projects such as farmers markets, community-supported agriculture programs, roadside stands, and agritourism. The 2014 Farm Bill also expanded its funding and scope to include the promotion of local and regional food business enterprises that do not provide products directly to consumers, but rather serve as intermediaries to process, distribute, aggregate, and/or store locally or regionally produced food products. The 2014 Farm Bill provides $30 million in funding for the FMLFPP through fiscal years 2014-2018—approximately $15 million for the Farmers Market Promotion Program, and approximately $15 million for the Local Food Promotion Program.

Contacts:

Farmers Market Promotion Program

John Miklozek, Acting Program Manager USDAFMPPQuestions@ams.usda.gov | 202.720.0933

Local Food Promotion Program

Nicole Nelson Miller, Program Manager

USDALFPPQuestions@ams.usda.gov |

202.720.2731

Organic Cost Share Program – AMS administers two organic certification cost share programs. Each program provides cost share assistance, through participating States, to organic producers and/or organic handlers. Recipients must receive initial certification or continuation of certification from a USDA accredited certifying agent (ACA).

Contact:

Rita Meade, OCCSP Coordinator

Rita.Meade@ams.usda.gov | 202.260.8636

Trista Etzig, Grants Director trista.etzig@ams.usda.gov

Main Office:

USDA | Agricultural Marketing Service

Transportation and Marketing Programs

Marketing Services Division

1400 Independence Ave., SW

Room 4552-S, Stop 0264

Washington, DC 20250-0269

Phone: 202.720.8317

Fax: 202.690.0338