The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications from individuals, nonprofit organizations, for-profit businesses, Tribal governments, government entities, agricultural cooperatives, economic development organizations, and educational institutions for the 2026 and 2027 Farm to Food Security (F2FS) Grant.
Donor Name: Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA)
State: Minnesota
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/31/2026
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The Farm to Food Security (F2FS) Grant Program is a competitive funding opportunity to help individuals and organizations buy foods grown and raised in Minnesota and distribute them at no cost to Minnesotans experiencing food insecurity, particularly individuals whose needs are not met through the traditional emergency food system.
Funding Information
They expect to award approximately $1.295 million using a competitive review process. The maximum award is $100,000, and the minimum is $20,000.
Eligible Food Expenses
Food funds must be spent on foods grown and raised in Minnesota that will be distributed in Minnesota to individuals whose needs are not met through the traditional emergency food network. Local foods bought via food hubs, distributors, farmers’ markets, and aggregators must be grown, raised, or produced in Minnesota. Vendors may not be charged a fee for participating in the program.
Eligible food items include whole (unprocessed), minimally processed, and processed items that meet the following criteria. Whole (unprocessed) or minimally processed foods that are at least 80% grown or raised in Minnesota and retain their inherent character according to our definition of “unprocessed or minimally processed foods.” Eligible unprocessed or minimally processed items may include but are not limited to:
- Fruits
- Vegetable
- Herbs
- Meat, fish, and poultry
- Dairy (including fluid milk)
- Eggs
- Legumes
- Grains
- Maple syrup and honey
Processed foods with at least one primary ingredient (excluding water) that is 80% grown or raised in Minnesota. Examples of processed food items include but are not limited to:
- Hot dogs or sausages
- Tofu
- Bread or tortillas
- Granola
- Soups or soup mixes
- Sauces or jams
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the minimum requirements to be considered for this grant opportunity. Applicants must:
- Be an individual, nonprofit organization, for-profit business, Tribal government, government entity, agricultural cooperative, economic development organization, or an educational institution.
- Authorized to do business in Minnesota.
- Meet the requirements of the Pre-award Risk Assessment.
Examples of applicants include but are not limited to:
- Local and statewide food access organizations and food shelves
- Farmers markets or cooperatives
- Farmers and food businesses with capacity to distribute foo
- Universities, colleges, and other educational institutions
- Hospitals, clinics, or other health organizations
- Municipal or county government entities
- Tribal governments or Tribal entities
Schools, early care providers, and senior care providers are eligible, but should see the Eligible Food Distribution section, because Farm to Food Security grant funds are not intended to be used to supplement food distributed as part of meal programs reimbursed by the state or federal governments.
For more information, visit MDA.
