USDA AWARDS 15 GRANTS FOR MARKETING IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS
                                             Release No.0381.99
                                                               
                                    Andy Solomon (202) 720-4623
                                          andy.solomon@usda.gov
                                 George Chartier (202) 720-8998
                                       george.chartier@usda.gov

USDA AWARDS 15 GRANTS FOR MARKETING IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

     WASHINGTON, Sept. 28, 1999--Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today
awarded $700,000 under the Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program to
support market research and demonstration projects to improve marketing
systems for food and agricultural products or to identify new market
opportunities for farm products.  

     "The projects USDA is funding will especially benefit small, limited-
resource, family farmers by helping them identify and build new markets for
their farm products," said Glickman.

     USDA awarded today's grants to the following states:

          Alabama--$48,000 to the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries
     to provide training and technical assistance for small, limited-resource
     farmers as they use improved technology for fruit and vegetable
     production.

          Alaska--$49,870 to the Alaska Division of Agriculture, in cooperation
     with the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, to assist farmers in marketing
     Alaska vegetables and potatoes.

          Colorado--$32,000 to the Colorado Department of Agriculture, in
     cooperation with the Montrose/Delta Agricultural Development Program, to
     study potential growth of the "natural/organic" meat industry.

          Connecticut--$75,000 to the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, in
     cooperation with five other New England States and the New England
     MacIntosh Growers Association, to evaluate innovative technologies for
     packing, shipping, and marketing fresh apples in domestic and
     international markets.

          Florida--$57,000 to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer
     Services, in cooperation with the University of Florida, to investigate
     the market for fresh and frozen shrimp products and to identify direct
     marketing alternatives for shrimp grown on small farms.

          Idaho--$24,989 to the Idaho Department of Agriculture, in cooperation
     with the University of Idaho and the Idaho Hay Association, to identify
     alternative market opportunities for forages and the feasibility of
     establishing hay marketing associations or cooperatives.

          Illinois--$80,000 to the Illinois Department of Agriculture, in
     cooperation with the University of Illinois, to develop a system for
     collecting and distributing information on the compositional
     characteristics of corn and soybeans products, and the associated price
     differentials.

          Maine--$42,000 to the Maine Department of Agriculture to establish a
     database of market information for producers and buyers of Maine
     agricultural products and to develop alternative mechanisms to exchange
     market information.

          Massachusetts--$23,214 to the Massachusetts Department of Food and
     Agriculture, in cooperation with the Berkshire Regional Food and Land
     Council, for a variety of outreach and educational programs for
     producers and buyers under the "Berkshire Grown" marketing initiative.

          Minnesota--$45,000 to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, in
     cooperation with the Organic Alliance, to develop educational materials
     that explain organic farming and provide for better informed consumer
     food choices.

          New Jersey--$43,131 to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture to
     evaluate potential direct marketing opportunities and impediments in
     connection with farm-based educational and recreational activities.

          New York--$42,000 to the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets,
     in cooperation with the Farmers Market Federation of New York, to
     develop a system that allows food stamp recipients to use part of their
     electronic benefits transfer allowances to shop at open-air farmers
     markets.

          Oregon--$63,000 to the Oregon Raspberry and Blackberry Commission to
     monitor and evaluate current caneberry nutraceutical and health-related
     research and identify additional opportunities for product development.

          Tennessee--$37,000 to the University of Tennessee, Agricultural
     Experiment Station, to identify and develop ways to reduce barriers that
     confront small-volume producers of fresh produce and processed foods in
     the food distribution system.

          Washington--$38,031 to Washington State University, Agricultural
     Experiment Station, to assess consumers' willingness to pay for
     sustainable agricultural food products and evaluate market opportunities
     for producers.

         USDA selected these projects from over 30 proposals state departments of
agriculture and other eligible state agencies recommended.  Information on
FSMIP grants can be obtained on the web at www.ams.usda.gov/tmd/fsmip.htm  or
by contacting Larry V. Summers at (202) 720-2704.

                                #