By Faridat Salifu
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced $32.4 million in funding to support the expansion of local and regional food systems across the country through its Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP).
The funding is designed to improve how farmers connect with consumers, strengthen local food supply chains, and support agricultural businesses that link producers to households, institutions, and markets.
Applications for the grants are being received through the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service and will remain open until 5 June 2026.
Out of the total amount, $27.68 million is allocated to two major schemes: the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) and the Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP).
FMPP will support direct marketing activities that allow farmers to sell straight to consumers, including farmers’ markets, roadside stalls, community-supported agriculture, agritourism, and digital sales platforms.
LFPP, on the other hand, focuses on strengthening the infrastructure behind local food distribution, such as food hubs, shared processing kitchens, and food incubators that help producers reach wider markets.
An additional $4.71 million is set aside for the Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP), which encourages collaboration between public and private actors to improve coordination across food production, processing, and distribution networks.
The programme is funded under the 2018 Farm Bill and managed by the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service.
Applicants are required to provide a 25 per cent cash match, ensuring shared responsibility and long-term sustainability of funded projects.
Submissions must be made electronically via grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on 5 June 2026, while late or incomplete applications will only be considered under exceptional circumstances as defined by USDA guidelines.
