Cold Chain Grants for Emergency Food Assistance

The purpose of the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Cold Chain Grants for Emergency Food Assistance (CCG) is to support food assistance entities to temporarily store, effectively package, and distribute fresh and minimally processed foods through cold chain equipment investments. This will be achieved primarily through small investments in refrigeration, freezers, refrigerated/freezer vehicles and trailers, and repackaging equipment. CCG program investments help put U.S. farmers and ranchers at the center of solving the nation’s chronic health problems, support recovery of foods that would otherwise go to waste, improve food and agricultural supply chain resilience, and ensure that all families, regardless of circumstance, can access Real Food. The resulting increased capacity for food banks, food pantries, and similar entities will help ensure more nutrient-dense proteins and other healthy foods be made available in support of healthier families and healthier communities and in alignment with the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.