Collage of wild rice, eggs, and a farmer in a green bean field

The application period for the Minnesota Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) Program is closed. Details on this page apply to the Request for Applications issued in spring 2023. A second application cycle is anticipated to be issued in fall 2023. Please contact us if you would like to be notified when additional information is available.

The Minnesota LFPA Program is a new grant program from the MDA to fund projects that:

  • Buy local food, primarily from socially disadvantaged and emerging farmers
  • Distribute food to underserved communities throughout the state

Applicant Eligibility

Individuals (including farmers), non-profit organizations, for-profit businesses, tribal nations, government entities, agricultural cooperatives, economic development organizations, educational institutions, and representatives of a community collaboration are eligible to apply.

Applicants are required to partner with at least one other individual or organization as part of their application. Those in search of partners and collaborators can advertise their interest via an online directory form and find potential contacts by viewing the public responses

Project Eligibility

We anticipate that applications will propose a wide range of models for local food procurement and distribution. Requirements include: 

  • Sourcing at least 70% of food from within the geographic boundaries of Minnesota
  • Sourcing at least 70% of food from socially disadvantaged and emerging farmers
  • Distributing food to communities, at least 75% of which must be underserved, at no cost

Amount Available 

Approximately $2.125 million is available. The maximum award is $100,000 and the minimum is $10,000. Applicants may indicate their interest in additional funding if available. 

Informational Sessions

Two virtual information sessions were held regarding the MN LFPA Request for Applications. The presentation during both sessions was the same. View the slides (PDF) and the recording of the first session or the second session. The questions and answers shared during the sessions are included in on the Q&A page. The written Q&A has been edited for clarity and to provide additional detail. 

Applying

Applications were due by May 30, 2023. To learn more about the program, read the MN Local Food Purchase Assistance Program 2023 Request for Applications (PDF) issued in spring 2023. Please plan to read the updated Request for Applications when it's posted (anticipated in fall 2023), as this grant program is subject to change. 

Contact us if you need this information in an alternative format. 


The MN LFPA program was made possible by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service through grant AM22LFPA0000C045. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA.