USDA Awards $1.9 Million to New York Food Projects

Six New York recipients will share federal local food and farmers market grants announced by the state's U.S. senators.

Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Organic Food

USDA Awards $1.9 Million to New York Food Projects

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded $1,915,024 in grants to six New York recipients through its Local Food Promotion Program and Farmers Market Promotion Program. The awards were announced by U.S. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer.

Why it matters

The grants aim to connect farmers with buyers and expand access to affordable, locally produced food for New York residents. Funding is directed to projects spanning food technology, aggregation, certification and farmers markets across the state.

The USDA awarded $1,915,024 across six New York recipients, including $500,000 each to Farm to People LLC and the University at Buffalo. The source does not specify disbursement schedules or expected outcome targets for the projects.

The players

Kirsten Gillibrand

Kirsten Gillibrand is a U.S. senator from New York and a member of the Senate Appropriations Agriculture and Rural Development Subcommittee.

Chuck Schumer

Chuck Schumer is the senior U.S. senator from New York and a longtime Democratic leader in the Senate.

U.S. Department of Agriculture

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is the federal agency that administers the Local Food Promotion and Farmers Market Promotion programs.

The details

Cornell University in Ithaca and Finger Foods Soups LLC in Bloomfield will each receive $100,000, while Farm to People LLC in Brooklyn will receive $500,000 to aggregate farm products. The Chester Agricultural Center, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County and the Research Foundation for SUNY, on behalf of the University at Buffalo, will receive $466,921, $248,103 and $500,000 respectively.

November 6, 2026: USDA grant awards announced by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Sen. Chuck Schumer.

Organic Food Landscape

The awards fall under the USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program, which funds direct-to-consumer and local food marketing initiatives. The New York projects extend that federal program into food aggregation, certification and mobile markets.

New York shoppers may see more locally sourced produce, soups and meat options as funded projects launch. Farmers markets receiving grants could expand offerings and access in their communities.

The takeaway

Federal grants are increasingly tied to connecting small producers with consumers. Readers interested in local food can look for farmers markets and aggregation programs in their own region.