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The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is now accepting applications for its Last Food Mile Grant through the Farm to Family Program. Michigan-based farm businesses or food business/organizations that work directly with Michigan-based farmers are invited to apply. Applicants will be awarded a maximum grant award of $100,000, and applications are due February 6, 2026.

What is the program’s purpose?

The Farm-to-Family Program focuses on strengthening market opportunities for regenerative farming and for farmers that grow nutritious specialty and staple crops. These small and mid-sized producers supply a rapidly growing market for local foods, but the local and regional food infrastructure has not kept pace with growth in demand. The aim of this grant program is to help bridge the “Last Food Mile” by developing transportation and distribution infrastructure in value chains for small- and mid-sized food producers across Michigan.”

Last Food Mile refers to the processes in the food value chain that occur immediately before the product reaches the consumer. Examples of the last food mile include:

• Picking up apples from two local orchards to be sold at a farm stop.
• Transporting frozen asparagus, fresh tomatoes, and locally baked bread from a food hub to a school district.
• Bringing eggs and pork that were aggregated from three cooperative farms to a farmers' market for sale.
• Delivering four pallets of fresh sweetcorn to a local grocery store.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants for this grant program must be a Michigan-based farm business or a Michigan-based food business/organization that works directly with Michigan-based farmers. For the purposes of the Last Food Mile grant program, MDARD retains the right to make the final decision about whether or not an entity qualifies as a Michigan-based farm or food business.

What types of projects are eligible?

To be eligible for the Last Food Mile program, projects must:

• Expand delivery of Michigan grown or produced foods to buyers who will eat or prepare the food (e.g., individual consumers, schools, hospitals, senior centers, restaurants, cafes, farm stops and other retail, etc.).
• Establish or expand at least one partnership with another business or organization to address local food distribution challenges regionally or locally. Partnership objectives may include but are not limited to cross-docking; aggregation; processing; expanding producers’ market access; mentorship; and sharing equipment or infrastructure with another organization or business.
• Demonstrate how the following goals will be met, and targets for each: 1) Increase the volume/weight of Michigan grown foods sold in Michigan communities; 2) Increase the dollar value of Michigan grown foods sold AND the revenue to Michigan farmers; 3) Increase the number of Michigan farmers reached, including those who use regenerative practices; 4) Increase local and regional market access for a broader geographic distribution of Michigan farmers; 5) Increase the number or types of consumers who have access to Michigan grown foods.
• Plan to achieve grant outcomes within one year.

In addition to the requirements above, preferences include:

• Developing market channels for regenerative agriculture products.
• Allocating at least 80% of the proposed budget to a refrigerated vehicle.
• Innovation in project approach or desired outcomes.
• Serving a geographic area and/or stakeholder groups that currently have limited access to local food value chains.
• Applicant does not have another active MDARD grant.

What are the funding amounts and eligible costs?

Applicants will be awarded a maximum amount of $100,000. Up to 10 percent in Administrative Costs are allowed for the overall management of the grant. Salaries, wages, staff benefits, and travel costs are not eligible costs under this grant. Eligible refrigerated vehicles must be valued at $100,000 or less and paid in full by grant dollars.

What is the application process?

Applications for the Last Food Mile Grant are due within the MIAgGrants online grant management system by Friday, February 6, 2026, at 5 p.m. ET. Only one application per applicant will be considered.

The full Grant Guidelines can be found here.

For more information on this grant or how to apply with Morrison’s assistance, please contact the Morrison Grants Team by email at grants@morrisonco.net or call us at 530-893-4764.