The US Department of Agriculture opened $7.5 million in grant funding on 17 August for cold chain equipment in the emergency food assistance system.

The Cold Chain Grants for Emergency Food Assistance Program pays for the refrigeration that lets food assistance organisations store, pack and move fresh, frozen and minimally processed food. Without it, such networks are largely limited to shelf-stable goods, and perishable farm produce offered to them has nowhere to go.

Non-profit organisations selected under the programme will run competitive sub-award schemes of their own. A sub-award covers the cost of the equipment plus documented delivery, installation and necessary ancillary supplies, up to $200,000, and the sub-awardee must contribute a cash cost share of 10 per cent.

"With this funding opportunity we will see more cold storage and infrastructure to store homegrown proteins," said Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr said the money would give food banks "the infrastructure to deliver more meat, eggs, dairy, produce, and other whole foods from American farmers and ranchers to families in need."

The department frames the programme as building demand for what American farmers and ranchers produce, in line with the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The funding comes from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

Applications close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on 1 October 2026 and must be filed through grants.gov; the department says late applications will not be considered.

Source: USDA