Farmers’ Market and Local Food Promotion Program
Establishment
Program purposes
The purposes of the Program are to increase domestic consumption of and access to locally and regionally produced agricultural products, and to develop new market opportunities for farm and ranch operations serving local markets, by developing, improving, expanding, and providing outreach, training, and technical assistance to, or assisting in the development, improvement and expansion of—
domestic farmers’ markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture programs, agritourism activities, and other direct producer-to-consumer market opportunities; and
local and regional food business enterprises (including those that are not direct producer-to-consumer markets) that process, distribute, aggregate, or store locally or regionally produced food products.
Eligible entities
An entity shall be eligible to receive a grant under the Program if the entity is—
an agricultural cooperative or other agricultural business entity or a producer network or association, including a community supported agriculture network or association;
a local government;
a nonprofit corporation;
a public benefit corporation;
an economic development corporation;
a regional farmers’ market authority; or
such other entity as the Secretary may designate.
Criteria and guidelines
Priorities
In providing grants under the Program, priority shall be given to applications that include projects that benefit underserved communities, including communities that—
are located in areas of concentrated poverty with limited access to fresh locally or regionally grown foods; and
have not received benefits from the Program in the recent past.
Funds requirements for eligible entities
Matching funds
Limitation on use of funds
Funding
Mandatory funding
Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to carry out this section—
$3,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
$5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2010;
$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 and 2012; and
$30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018.
Fiscal year 2013
Authorization of appropriations
Use of funds
Of the funds made available to carry out this section for a fiscal year—
50 percent of the funds shall be used for the purposes described in subsection (b)(1); and
50 percent of the funds shall be used for the purposes described in subsection (b)(2).