July 22, 2026

APPLETON CITY, MO — Food and farm businesses across eligible rural counties in Kansas and western Missouri will soon have access to new funding designed to help local food products move from farm to market. 

Harvest to Market grants range from $5,000 to $25,000 for projects that strengthen businesses serving local and regional food markets.  

Approximately $1 million in total funding is available through the program.  

Applications are due Aug. 31, 2026, by noon Central Time. 

The Harvest to Market grant is part of the Heartland Regional Food Business Coalition’s work to ensure small food and farm businesses have the right resources at the right time as they work to meet increasing demand for locally produced and raised food. It is designed to support food and farm enterprises that are ready to expand market access, improve processing capacity, strengthen distribution systems, increase storage infrastructure or invest in marketing and product development. 

“Many local food businesses have strong products and strong market demand for their products. But they often need help with the next step — the equipment, systems processing and infrastructure distribution that allow them to reach more customers and larger markets,” said Katie Nixon, Food Systems Director at New Growth. As part of their work with the Heartland Food Business Coalition, New Growth administers the Harvest to Market grant. “The Harvest to Market grant is intended to help businesses make those strategic investments.” 

Funding Priorities 

The program focuses on post-harvest and go-to-market investments that help local food businesses grow and serve regional markets more effectively. 

Examples include: 

·        Processing equipment 

·        Cold storage and refrigeration 

·        Distribution and delivery equipment 

·        Packaging and labeling improvements 

·        Marketing and branding investments 

·        Online sales platforms 

·        Logistics and supply chain systems 

·        Product development 

·        Value-added food processing 

 Additional consideration will be given to projects that create shared benefits across multiple farms or food businesses, including collaborative distribution, aggregation and market development efforts. 

Who Can Apply? 

Eligible applicants include: 

·        Farms and ranches 

·        Food producers 

·        Farmers markets 

·        Food hubs 

·        Aggregators and distributors 

·        Value-added processors 

·        Retail food businesses 

 Nonprofits are not eligible to apply. Businesses must be located in eligible rural counties in Kansas or western Missouri. See the Heartland Coalition’s website for a map of the eligible counties.

No Match Required 

Unlike many grant programs, Harvest to Market does not require matching funds. 

Projects will operate on a partial reimbursement basis. Awardees will receive 60% of grant funds up front with 40% received after they have submitted their final report at the end of their project. 

Projects must be completed within six months. 

Building Regional Food Resilience 

The Harvest to Market Grant is part of a larger effort to strengthen local food economies, expand market opportunities for farmers and food entrepreneurs, and improve regional food value chain resilience.

This project is supported in part by a foundation grant to Heartland Food Business Coalition partner New Growth, working with The Kansas City Food Hub, The Food Circle, University of Missouri Extension, and other partners in Kansas, including Kansas State Extension and the Kansas Rural Center.

Learn More 

Businesses interested in applying are encouraged to begin preparing now and to connect with a business counselor for support. 

For updates, eligibility information, and application details or to connect with a business counselor visit: heartlandfoodbusiness.org/harvest-to-market-grant/ 

About the Heartland Food Business Coalition 

The Heartland Food Business Coalition supports food and farm entrepreneurs across Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas through business assistance, market development, financing support, and regional collaboration. The coalition works to strengthen local and regional food systems while expanding economic opportunities for food and agricultural businesses. Heartlandfoodbusiness.org 

About New Growth

New Growth is a nonprofit in west central Missouri working to build small businesses, small farms and small-town opportunities. newgrowthmo.org