BISMARCK – Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has announced that grants are available to North Dakota farmers markets to purchase marketing supplies to increase visibility, awareness and attendance at the markets, and to increase sales of specialty crops.
The grants are open to any new or existing farmers market in North Dakota with a current profile on the Local Foods Map Directory.
“I encourage new or existing farmers markets in North Dakota to apply,” Goehring said. “Funds can be used to purchase branded tents/canopies, branded tablecloths, flags, banners, displays, signage and posters/flyers.”
There is $25,000 available for the grants and farmers markets may apply for a maximum of $2,500. The grants are available on a competitive basis and will be scored on need, impact and work plan to address the stated project objectives. Approximately 60% of the grants will go to communities with populations under 10,000 and approximately 40% will go to communities with populations over 10,000. Materials purchased must promote the entire market and specialty crops in general and cannot go toward an individual producer.
Application forms for the grants are available on the NDDA website. Applications are due by Friday, June 12, 2026, at 4 p.m. Selected applications will be notified by June 19, 2026. Project periods will start July 1, 2026, and farmers markets will have until Dec. 31, 2026, to make purchases for reimbursement.
Questions about the application and requests for assistance in setting up a Local Foods Map Directory profile should be directed to Jenna Nieters, local foods marketing specialist at jnieters@nd.gov or 701-328-2659.
The Farmers Market Specialty Crop Marketing Grant is funded through the Fiscal Year 2025 United States Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.