Applications open for $250K CSA grant for SNAP

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — Applications are open for the FreshConnect CSA for SNAP Grant Program, awarding $250,000 to help low-income New Yorkers buy local, fresh food while making sure farmers get compensated fairly. The program gives low-income New Yorkers fresh produce from local farms every week, subsidizing up to half the cost of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients.

In a CSA business model, local customers invest either in advance or weekly into a portion of the farm's upcoming harvest—their "share" of the CSA—in exchange for regular drops of farm-fresh food, usually from about mid-spring to mid-autumn. Members often pick up their weekly CSA directly from the farm, or at a community center like a library. SNAP, once called food stamps, gives credit to low-income New Yorkers to buy raw food and ingredients with an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card.

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball announced the funding as part of a widescale effort to strengthen the food supply chain by supporting local agriculture. “All New Yorkers deserve access to fresh, nutritious foods grown right here in New York State,” Ball said. “This program feeds our families and supports our farmers.”

Nonprofits, Indian tribal organizations, public schools, and local or municipal governments can apply for grants ranging from $25,000 to $50,000. Applications are due through the Statewide Financial System by 3 p.m. on July 22, 2025.

Grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served rolling basis until funds run out. In case it's down to the wire and there's not enough funding for remaining applicants, officials will use a lottery system to pick who gets funded.

Entities can only submit one application each. They won't accept faxed, mailed, or emailed applications. And registering for that Statewide Financial System can take weeks, officials said.

Applicants have to list detailed plans, local producers, and who would handle SNAP payments for the CSA shares. The project plan also requires setting goals like identifying local CSA programs that accept SNAP benefits, organizing outreach for SNAP recipients, and establishing easy pickup locations.

Grant rules set specific limits on spending, including barring funding for food sourced outside New York. Of course, recipients will have to use the money to offset the part of the price of a CSA share for households that receive SNAP benefits, letting them pay less for produce while farmers receive full value.

The funds can also cover administrative costs up to 30% of the award, vehicle rental, wages for project staff, supplies for food storage and distribution, and transportation expenses. Funds can't cover construction, cell phones, costs from before receiving the grant, or equipment costing over $5,000.

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets held a webinar on March 18 to explain how the grant program works. Take a look below: