BROWN ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $170,000 FOR LOCAL FOOD HUB PLANNING IN CLEVELAND

Press Release

Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) has awarded a $170,440 grant to Farm Fair, a Cleveland software company that provides a platform for farmers and food hubs to more widely and easily access wholesale channels across an entire region. The funds will be used to increase regional production planning through continued growth of the food hub network in Northeast Ohio and will explore the creation of a food hub association to support holistic, efficient growth throughout the region and help local growers reach more customers.

"We should support farmers across Northeast Ohio by helping them grow their bottom lines so they can sell more products locally," said Brown. "Not only does this provide critical access to healthy, local fruits and vegetables and other nutritious foods, but it will also help family farmers to develop important local markets and expand business opportunities."

This funding is made possible through the USDA's Local Agriculture Marketing Program (LAMP) which Brown helped secure in the 2018 Farm Bill. LAMP helps fund farmers markets, local food systems, and the popular Value Added Producer grant program and other local food programs that help farmers sell their products and expand their businesses.

LFPP works to support the development and expansion of local and regional food business enterprises and develop new market opportunities for farm operations serving local markets.

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