Maryland Food and Agricultural Resiliency Mechanism Grant Program (MFARM)

MFARM, administered by the Maryland Department of Agriculture, builds food-system resiliency by leveraging Maryland agricultural and seafood products to help food banks and charitable emergency food providers alleviate food insecurity, while creating a market for Maryland farmers and watermen to sell their products. The funding priority is purchasing agricultural/seafood products listed in the Certified Local Farm and Chesapeake Invasive Species Provider Directory; grant funds may also cover transportation of those products. Funding formula: 80% of funds toward food costs and up to 20% toward transportation/distribution, staff, and supplies. Total pool approximately $200,000. [Institutional: grants go to food banks/food providers, benefiting farmers as sellers.]

Maryland food banks and charitable emergency food providers (e.g., food pantries, nonprofits, and similar organizations). Funds are used to purchase Maryland-produced agricultural/seafood products from local farms and seafood processors, prioritizing the Certified Local Farm and Chesapeake Invasive Species Provider Directory.

Apply via Maryland OneStop (Farm to Foodbank application). Requests range from a $5,000 minimum to a $40,000 maximum against an approximately $200,000 pool. Recurring cycle (2025 recipients announced, e.g., Aaron's Place, AfriThrive, Capital Area Food Bank).