USDA SEEKS STATE INPUT TO IMPROVE DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL MARKETING
News Date December 22, 2009
USDA encouraged state departments of agriculture, state agricultural experiment states, along with other state agencies, to join in an initiative to improve the marketing, transportation, and distribution of U.S.-produced food domestically and abroad. Through the Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP), a matching grant program administered by the USDA’s Agriculture Marketing Service, USDA has requested proposals that involve collaboration of multiple stakeholders, including states, academia, and producers.
In a released statement, USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan explains the importance of FSMIP. "This program is a great way for state agencies to tackle some of the distribution and market issues our farmers are facing. We hope to see many proposals that reflect USDA's 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' initiative, projects that will help create wealth in rural communities through the development of local and regional food systems and value-added agriculture, and that develop direct marketing opportunities for producers or producer groups."
Interested states may submit proposals to the FSMIP Staff Officer at USDA-AMS. For more information on FSMIP, including program guidelines, application forms and other related information, please visit the AMS FSMIP website. (Contact: Dewitt Ashby)