Hakim Fobia (202) 690-0488 Hakim.fobia@ams.usda.gov Billy Cox (202) 720-8998 Billy.cox@ams.usda.gov
WASHINGTON, April 13, 2010 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) invites individuals to share their expertise in reviewing project proposals for the 2010 Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) grant cycle. The FMPP is a competitive grant program with the goal of expanding direct producer-to-consumer market opportunities in the United States through the development and promotion of farmers markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture programs (CSAs), agritourism, and other direct-marketing channels. About $5 million has been made available for FMPP grants.
Reviewers will include peer representatives from agricultural cooperatives; producer networks; producer associations; non-profit corporations; public benefit corporations; economic development corporations; regional farmers market authorities; and employees of federal, state, local and tribal government.
Prospective peer reviewers are expected to have a general knowledge of the operational aspects of farmers markets, roadside stands, CSAs, agritourism, electronic benefit transfer projects, and other agricultural direct-marketing businesses. The reviewers will utilize their knowledge and expertise to score and comment on applications submitted for the 2010 FMPP grant cycle.
Selected reviewers must be available to review 20-30 proposals from the end of May through the beginning of July, and able to commit to one week of travel to Washington, DC, for an FMPP Reviewer Meeting in early July. Reviewers located outside the Washington, DC, metropolitan area will be reimbursed for transportation, lodging, meals and incidental expenses incurred during their Washington stay. Those reviewers located within the Washington, DC, metropolitan area will be reimbursed for local transportation costs only.
Individuals and/or their organization (including subcontractors) that have prepared or submitted an application for FMPP for the 2010 FMPP grant funding year are not eligible to serve as reviewers.
For more information, see the FMPP website at www.ams.usda.gov/FMPP. To apply, e-mail Ricardo Krajewski at Ricardo.Krajewski@ams.usda.gov or call the FMPP office at (202) 694-4000. FMPP management will contact those individuals selected as reviewers in May 2010.
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