New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball has announced that $500,000 is now available for farmers’ markets across the state through Part 1 of the fourth round of the Farmers’ Market Resiliency Grant Program. The funding aims to strengthen local food systems by supporting improvements in market infrastructure, marketing and promotion, and delivery capabilities. This initiative is part of the New York State Budget and supports Governor Kathy Hochul’s ongoing efforts to build a resilient food system.
Commissioner Ball stated, “The Farmers’ Market Resiliency Grant Program is a crucial component of New York’s ongoing effort to strengthen our food supply chain. We learned during the pandemic that we needed to have a reliable food system right here at home and I’m happy to see that we are making great progress towards that goal. Through three rounds of this program, we’ve seen some great progress on projects that are helping our farmers and producers reach more consumers. I encourage all eligible markets to apply for this great opportunity.”
This round introduces a new requirement: awardees must make sub-grants available to farmers’ markets or vendors within their region through an open application process. In addition, Part 2 of this funding opportunity will provide $200,000 directly to eligible farmers’ markets later in the year without requiring sub-grants. This approach is designed to offer greater access for smaller markets or those seeking less financial assistance.
Grants between $100,000 and $200,000 will be given to applicants who present plans for distributing funds among market locations. Projects supported may include repairs or upgrades to market facilities, modernization of product delivery methods, expanded outreach initiatives, and other improvements. More information about eligibility criteria and how to apply can be found on the Department’s website; applications are due by 3:00 pm on February 4, 2026. An informational webinar is scheduled for December 11 at 12:30 pm.
This grant program is one aspect of Governor Hochul’s broader investment in agriculture and food industries throughout New York State—efforts intended not only to boost demand for local products but also ensure statewide access to fresh foods while reinforcing supply chains against disruptions such as extreme events. Other related programs managed by the Department include Nourish New York, the 30 Percent NYS Initiative for school meals, FreshConnect Program, Farm-to-School program, as well as recent funding rounds supporting regional school food infrastructure.
Currently, the Department collaborates with over 400 farmers’ markets along with more than 250 farm stands and ten mobile market operators statewide—all providing direct outlets from farms in response to consumer demand for fresh produce.
