AgSec Vilsack announced the availability of $78 million to promote farmers markets and local and regional food sales. The funds are authorized through the 2014 farm law. They include $15 million to promote farmers markets, $15 million for marketing and promotional support for local food businesses, such as food hubs, and $48 million in loan guarantee for projects that focus on local food enterprises. For details, click here.
“The announcement today recognizes the skyrocketing consumer demand for locally- grown food, one of the fastest growing sectors in American agriculture,” said the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. NASC official Eugene Kim said the farmers market and local food promotion program help small and mid-size farms “boost income and scale up to bigger markets.”