Resources for Producers

Funding Opportunities for Producers

farm to school funding

The resources below highlight funding opportunities for farm to school procurement initiatives. While specific deadlines and award amounts may change year to year, these opportunities represent ongoing or recurring funding sources that Oregon producers can pursue.

Contact your Regional Procurement Coordinator to better understand funding opportunities and how to best position yourself for these programs.

Oregon-Specific Funding

Grants and scholarships beneficial for Oregon producers.

ODA Farm to School Equipment & Infrastructure Grant $10,000–$50,000 · Competitive · Oregon Department of Agriculture Each Biennium

Helps Oregon producers overcome barriers to entering or expanding in the school marketplace. Funding covers equipment and infrastructure needs for producers who intend to sell food produced in Oregon to Child Nutrition Programs.

Eligible Recipients: Oregon farmers, ranchers, seafood harvesters, fishermen, and processors selling to NSLP, CACFP, SFSP, or Tribal meal programs.

Eligible Expenses: Grading, packing, labeling, packaging, or sorting equipment; cold storage facilities; commercial mixers and processing equipment; irrigation systems; food safety infrastructure; and more.

Application Cycle: Check ODA for current opportunities. Funding levels are set each biennium by the Oregon Legislature.

ODA Farm to School Program ↗
Oregon Farm to CNP Grants Oregon Department of Education · Schools apply, producers benefit Each Biennium

Administered by ODE, these grants provide reimbursement funds to school districts for purchasing locally grown and processed food. While schools apply for these grants, producers benefit directly — districts receiving this funding are actively seeking Oregon producers to buy from.

Non-Competitive Grant: Any Oregon district can opt in. Award amounts based on number of meals served. Minimum award of $3,500 for smaller districts.

Competitive Procurement Grant: Supplemental funding for schools with strong Farm to School programs. Priority given for BIPOC/women-owned producer purchases and culturally relevant foods.

Why this matters to you: Schools receiving these grants have dedicated funding to buy local — they're your warmest leads.

Oregon Farm to CNP Grant ↗
Specialty Crop Block Grants $50,000–$250,000 · Oregon Department of Agriculture Annual

Offered annually by ODA using USDA funding to enhance the competitiveness of Oregon's specialty crop industries — fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops.

Important: Individual producers cannot apply directly. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, producer groups, universities, local governments, and other organizations.

Application Cycle: Typically opens in late fall/winter, with awards announced the following fall.

How producers benefit: Work with a producer group, commodity commission, or nonprofit to submit a project that enhances your crop's competitiveness.

ODA Specialty Crop Block Grants ↗

National Grant Programs

Recurring national grants that support producers and farm to school programs.

USDA Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) Up to $200,000 working capital · Up to $50,000 planning · USDA Rural Development Annual

Part of the USDA's Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP). Helps agricultural producers enter into value-added activities — turning raw products into processed items, creating new marketing opportunities, and increasing producer income.

Grant Types: Planning grants (feasibility studies, business plans — up to $50,000) and working capital grants (operational costs for processing/marketing — up to $200,000).

Match Required: 1:1 match (cash or eligible in-kind contributions).

Priority Groups: Beginning farmers, socially disadvantaged farmers, veteran farmers, and first-time VAPG applicants.

Application Cycle: Typically opens February–April each year.

USDA VAPG Program ↗
USDA Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) Umbrella program · Farmers Market, Local Food Promotion & Regional Food System grants Annual

LAMP is an umbrella program under the 2018 Farm Bill that includes VAPG (above) plus three additional grant programs supporting local and regional food systems:

Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP): Supports direct producer-to-consumer marketing — farmers markets, roadside stands, CSAs, agritourism.

Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP): Supports intermediary supply chain activities — food hubs, aggregation, local food distribution.

Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP): Supports public-private partnerships building regional food economies.

USDA LAMP Program ↗
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Varies by practice · USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Continuous

NRCS's flagship conservation program helps farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners integrate conservation practices into working lands. Financial and technical assistance available for a wide array of practices.

Relevant for farm-to-school: High tunnels for season extension, irrigation improvements, soil health practices — all of which can help you produce more consistently for school markets.

Application: Continuous sign-up with periodic batching/ranking dates. Contact your local NRCS office to get started.

Advance payments: Historically underserved producers may qualify for at least 50% up front.

Oregon EQIP Program ↗

Looking for More Grants?

Friends of Family Farmers maintains a curated and regularly updated database of grant programs, loan types, and technical assistance resources for Oregon farmers. This is one of the best places to discover new and upcoming funding opportunities.

Browse All Grants →

Know of a Funding Opportunity?

Help us keep this list growing! If you know of a grant, scholarship, or funding source that supports local food producers or farm to school programs, let us know and we'll share it in our quarterly newsletter. If it is a recurring grant that is not listed here, we will add it to our website.

Submit an Opportunity →