The Minnesota Department of Agriculture will be awarding funds through two new Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) mini-grants to respond to the disruptions COVID-19 has caused in traditional Farm to School markets.
School closures due to the current pandemic led to many changes in the food service industry and the farmers who sell into wholesale markets.
The two grants AGRI Farm to School Rapid Response for Schools and AGRI Farm to School Rapid Response for Food Venders will allow the two parties to use the funds to meet their needs.
AGRI for Schools allows the school districts to begin, diversify, and expand purchasing from Minnesota producers during the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily during the summer and fall 2020.
The Funds for AGRI for Food Vendors are to support equipment purchases for food vendors that will help them meet the product needs of school during the pandemic. Agriculture producers, restaurants, processors, food hubs, food distributes, and foodservice management companies are able to apply.
Applications for both grants will be reviewed twice monthly through August 12, 2020 or until funds run out.
Schools can apply HERE.
Food vendors can apply HERE.
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