The consumer demand for locally-produced food is creating jobs and opportunity throughout rural America for farms, businesses and entrepreneurs that store, process, market and distribute food locally and regionally. Farm and business opportunities continue to increase as the market share of local and regional foods grows. Across USDA, there are resources, loans and grants to help farmers, ranchers and food businesses find new opportunities in this expanding agricultural sector. Here you can connect with the many programs, research, and educational materials that can help you meet this demand.
- Aggregating, Processing and Distributing
- Opportunities for Farmers and Ranchers
- Urban Agriculture
- Tools for Consumers and Communities
- USDA Funding
Resources
Partners Near You
- Cooperative Extension
- USDA Natural Resource and Conservation Local Service Centers
- USDA Farm Service Agency State Offices
- USDA State Rural Development Offices
- Resource Conservation and Development Councils
- Buy Fresh, Buy Local Chapters
- State Departments of Agriculture