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ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has awarded approximately $40.5 million for 60 grant projects through the Organic Market Development Grant program. These projects will support the development of new and existing organic markets, support the infrastructure to improve processing capacity, explore emerging technologies to promote organic products, and purchase equipment to help meet the increasing demand for organic commodities. USDA anticipates the projects funded through this program will benefit more than 27,000 producers and over 31.8 million consumers by increasing organic market opportunities. USDA Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small and Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt made the announcement recently at Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, Calif.
"Farmers who choose to grow Organic often access new, more and better markets," said Agriculture Deputy Secretary Torres Small. "At USDA, we are committed to making it easier for farmers who make that choice through programs like the Organic Market Development Grant Program, which supports farmers and increases access to fresh, healthy foods."
"This round of awards through the Organic Market Development Grant program will address critical needs within the nation's growing organic industry -- funding projects that further our goals of creating and expanding markets for producers," said Under Secretary Moffitt.