US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced $96.8m in grants to fund projects designed to support specialty crop producers, local food entrepreneurs, and farm to school efforts.
This new funding is part of USDA efforts during national nutrition month to enhance access to fresh, healthy, and nutritious products in the country.
Vilsack said: "Increasing market opportunities for local food producers is a sound investment in America's rural economies, while also increasing access to healthy food for our nation's families.
"Consumer demand for local, healthy food is skyrocketing in schools, hospitals and wholesalers. These grant opportunities allow farmers and ranchers to meet this demand, and feed our nation's kids."
Meanwhile, the agriculture secretary has also announced changes in the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP).
He said: "With these changes, more farmers can enter the specialty crop marketplace with peace of mind that they have risk protection should disaster strike."
Administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), this grant programme includes the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP), the Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP) and the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program.
Recently, USDA announced $66.5m funding for research and extension activities to address the requirements of country's specialty crop industry.
