Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program

2025 Equipment-Only Solicitation

CDFA is opening a limited 2025 Equipment-Only Solicitation to distribute funds remaining from the 2024 Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI) Solicitation. Approximately $2.3 million will be awarded to purchase one piece of equipment to be used to support middle of the supply chain activities for eligible commodities. Projects may begin upon USDA approval; Recipients are expected to complete all purchases by December 31, 2025.

The two-phase application process will consist of a short Concept Proposal PDF form which must be emailed to grants@cdfa.ca.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. PT on July 17, 2025. The applicants with the highest-ranked projects will then work with CDFA staff to complete a more detailed Grant Proposal for submission to USDA.

Additional limitations apply to this funding extension. For all details, please review the Request for Proposals linked below.

Questions and Answers (Q&A )

CDFA will publish three rounds of Q&A. Questions may be emailed to grants@cdfa.ca.gov or submitted during webinars and office hours. The deadline to submit questions is July 11, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. PT.


Upcoming Zoom Webinars

Passcode for all meetings is 2025.RFSI

2025 Applicant Resources

Program Overview

The purpose of the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) program is to build resilience in the middle of the food supply chain; to provide more and better markets to small farms and food businesses; to support the development of value-added products for consumers, fair prices, and fair wages; and create new and safe job opportunities.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), will conduct a competitive solicitation to award RFSI funds to projects that maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency. Projects should support infrastructure in the middle-of-the-supply-chain for California food and farm businesses and other eligible entities. The food supply chain involves the following stages: 1. Production, 2. Processing, 3. Aggregation and Distribution, and 4. Markets and Consumers. RFSI proposals must support the middle of the supply chain, which refers to stages 2. Processing and 3. Aggregation and Distribution. This program supports food system crops and products meant for human consumption (excluding meat and poultry products, which are funded through other USDA programs).

For more information on the funding source, please visit the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service program webpage.

Please sign up for the RFSI email list if you would like to be notified of future RFSI funding updates.

2024 RFSI Awards Announced

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has partnered with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to award $21.5 million for 117 projects through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI) to build resilience across the middle of the supply chain and strengthen local and regional food systems.

USDA and California Award $21.5 Million to Projects that Strengthen Food Supply Chain Infrastructure | Agricultural Marketing Service

2024 Recipient Resources

Program Status

Open
2025 Equipment-Only Solicitation is now open.

Additional Links

Contact Us

California Department of Food and Agriculture
Office of Grants Administration
1220 N Street
Sacramento, California 95814
Voicemail: (916) 657-3231
Grants@cdfa.ca.gov