top-menu

Archive | market-development

Mississippi Native Plant Month

https://www.youtube.com/watch?enablejsapi=1&autoplay=0&cc_load_policy=0&cc_lang_pref=&iv_load_policy=3&loop=0&modestbranding=1&rel=0&fs=1&playsinline=0&autohide=2&theme=dark&color=red&controls=1&" class="__youtube_prefs__ no-lazyload" title="YouTube player" allow="fullscreen; accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy="1" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=""> Mississippi Celebrates Native Plant Month: Promoting Biodiversity and Conservation This month, the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce will celebrate a growing national movement—Native Plant Month, an initiative to raise awareness about why native plants matter to our state. It [...]
Continue Reading

Mississippi Local Food Purchase Assistance Program

The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce was awarded a cooperative agreement from USDA for the Mississippi Local Food Purchase Assistance Program (LFPA). The program has two purposes: To increase the distribution of locally-produced food to underserved communities by utilizing the distribution network of Mississippi’s Feeding America Affiliated Food Banks; and To increase economic opportunities [...]
Continue Reading

Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program

USDA’s Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP) provides matching funds on a competitive basis to State Departments of Agriculture, State Colleges and Universities, and other appropriate State agencies to assist in exploring new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products, and to encourage research and innovation aimed at improving the efficiency and performance of the [...]
Continue Reading

Garden Grants

If you have questions regarding the garden grant programs, please contact Susan Lawrence, 601-213-7542 or Susan@mdac.ms.gov . School Garden Grant: Growing Lunch is a school garden grant program administered through the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce with the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Eligible schools can receive a grant up to $500 to [...]
Continue Reading

National Organic Cost-Share Program

The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce offers the National Organic Certification Cost-Share Program for Mississippi organic producers and handlers receiving certification or continuation of certification by a USDA accredited certifying agent. Funding for the program will be through fiscal year 2024. Individual organic operators are eligible for reimbursement of 75 percent of their 2024 [...]
Continue Reading

GAP/GHP Certification Cost-Share Program

Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Handling Practices (GHP) audits are voluntary independent audits of produce suppliers throughout the production and supply chain. GAP/GHP audits focus on best agricultural practices to verify that fruits and vegetables are produced, packed, handled, and stored in the safest manner possible to minimize risks of microbial food safety hazards. [...]
Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find more information on USDA's Specialty Crop Block Grant Program? You can find more information by visiting USDA's Specialty Crop Block Grant Program website at https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/scbgp. Am I allowed to submit more than one application? Applicants may submit more than one proposal. If more than one proposal is submitted, please prioritize the [...]
Continue Reading

Previously Funded Projects

MDAC has provided funding to various types of projects in the past, and the Agency is always looking for new and innovative projects that will positively impact Mississippi 's specialty crop industry. Below is a sampling of projects previously funded through the SCBGP. Organization Project Description Alcorn State University Conducting assessment of market potential for [...]
Continue Reading

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible Applicants Proposals are encouraged from state and local organizations, academia, producer associations, industry or community-based groups, and other specialty crop organizations. Although individuals are eligible to apply, grant funds cannot be awarded for projects that solely benefit a particular commercial product or provide a profit to a single organization, institution, or individual because these [...]
Continue Reading