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Grants

Grants

2026 Grants:

A truck carrying produce along a road

Last Food Mile Grants

This initiative aims to develop transportation and distribution infrastructure in value chains for small- to mid-scale food producers across Michigan. Eligible projects must establish or expand at least one partnership with another business or organization to address logistics and marketing challenges regionally or locally. Preference will be given to proposals that include a refrigerated vehicle that is valued at less than $100,000.

MDARD will accept applications for this funding opportunity untll Friday, February 6, 2026, at 5 pm ET.

Take me to the last food mile grant
Temperature chart for a milk facility.

Regenerative Value Chain Grants

Based on several years of expressed farm and food system sector interest, MDARD has established the first Regenerative Agricultural Program Unit in a state department of agriculture anywhere in the country. Supply chain infrastructure is one of the most common needs in developing markets for regenerative agriculture products. Farm-to-Family is responding to that feedback from practitioners by awarding grants to fund on-farm food processing infrastructure for producers that use regenerative practices. Eligible expenses include drainage infrastructure, wash/pack equipment, point of sale (POS) software, color sorters, and more. Proposed projects must demonstrate a clear plan for developing market channels for regenerative agriculture products.
Licenses

Community Mentorship Grants

This opportunity will develop community-based networks by encouraging experienced farmers and food business owners to collaborate with and serve as mentors and counselors to young and beginning farmers and food business owners in their community. Mentors and counselors will be supported to advise their mentees throughout the process of applying for any grant that is aligned with Farm to Family Program goals. They will also review mentees' business plans to strengthen likelihood of success. The goal of this grant is to accelerate access to grant funding for young and beginning farmers and food businesses, as well as other stakeholders that have been historically underrepresented among grant recipients. 
A variety of root vegetables at a farmers market.

Farmers to Markets Program

This program is a four-year partnership between MDARD and the Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA). Through Farmers to Markets, MDARD will invest up to $492,000 to increase the number of farmer vendors at community-driven marketplaces throughout Michigan. MDARD and MIFMA provide funding and technical assistance directly to producers experiencing barriers to market entry. The goals of the program are to support farmer vendors to achieve consistent sales, increase Michiganders' access to fresh, local foods, and improve marketing of Michigan agriculture products.

2025 Grants:

  • Food Hubs and Farm Stops Grant Program – In response to feedback from numerous food and agriculture stakeholders across Michigan in 2024, MDARD’s Farm to Family Program’s inaugural grant opportunity strengthened Michigan food hubs and farm stops. The program provided more than $730,000 of grant funding to eight food hubs and seven farm stops across the state.
  • Good Food for Michigan – Based on expressed interest from small- and medium-sized producers and light processors throughout Michigan for MDARD to support more local and regional market outlets, Farm to Family launched the Good Food For Michigan project in 2025. Led by the Center for Good Food Purchasing, Good Food for Michigan seeks to:
    • Expand the number of organizations and institutions committed to purchasing Michigan-grown and produced foods
    • Support the viability of Michigan farmers and producers through the expansion of local and regional food markets
    • Foster public education around healthy foods and Michigan agriculture
    • Implement the strategies identified in the Michigan Good Food Charter
  • Produce Safety Technicians – Toward supporting healthy and safe food value chain development, Farm to Family provided funding to support the Produce Safety Program offered by the Ottawa, Newaygo, Marquette, and Grand Traverse Conservation Districts. Through this program, Produce Safety Technicians deliver on-farm technical assistance using the Michigan Produce Safety Risk Assessment, and they help producers to understand and comply with local, state, and federal produce safety regulations.