Farmer Disaster Assistance Available

Family farmers in Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands can now access much-needed relief following Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Farm Aid has partnered with Florida Organic Growers & Consumers, Inc. (FOG) to distribute emergency relief grants of $500 to help farmers meet household expenses. Families who rely on farming for their income, live in the declared disaster areas, and are experiencing hardship as a result of the storm are encouraged to complete an application, even if other relief such as crop insurance or FEMA funds have been made available.

There is no deadline to apply, although applications are reviewed as they are received and there is a finite amount of funding available. Applications will be reviewed by a team of community members and FOG staff. Approval is based on the applicant qualifying as a family farm and demonstrating economic loss. Please note: you do not have to be an organic farm to apply.

Applications are available online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FLFARMAID. Applications can also be completed by phone.  Email david@foginfo.org or call 352.377.6345 to set up a phone interview.

Digital applications can be downloaded here: http://www.foginfo.org/wp- content/uploads/2017/10/FOGApplication.pdf, and then emailed to david@foginfo.org or printed and mailed to:

Florida Organic Growers
ATTN: Hurricanes Irma and Maria Relief Project
P.O. Box 12311 Gainesville, FL 32604
 
Donations to support these efforts can be made to Farm Aid's Family Farm Disaster Fund (https://give.farmaid.org/checkout/donation?eid=54454). If one wishes to specifically support organic farmers in Florida, please donate at http://www.foginfo.org/get-involved/supportus/.

About Farm Aid
Farm Aid’s mission is to build a vibrant, family farm-centered system of agriculture in America. Farm Aid artists and board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews host an annual festival to raise funds to support Farm Aid’s work with family farmers and to inspire people to choose family farm food. For more than 30 years, Farm Aid, with the support of the artists who contribute their performances each year, has raised more than $50 million to support programs that help farmers thrive, expand the reach of the Good Food Movement, take action to change the dominant system of industrial agriculture and promote food from family farms. Please visit www.farmaid.org for more information.

About FOG
Florida Certified Organic Growers and Consumers, Inc. (FOG), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation established in 1987, began as a grassroots organization with the office located at various times in someone’s kitchen or an unused corner of a barn. The Organic Food Production Act of 1990 required that the USDA develop national standards for organic products, and FOG was heavily involved in the development of the National Organic Program regulations governing organics. The National Organic Program Final Rule was published in the Federal Register in 2000. FOG continues to be very active in policy, including continuing development of the NOP standards, food safety and genetically modified food. FOG is also active in developing and implementing Farm Bill programs.. For more information, please visit www.foginfo.org.