Agricultural Food Safety Improvement Program (AFSIP)

The Agricultural Food Safety Improvement Program provides reimbursement funding for equipment and infrastructure that helps Massachusetts produce and aquaculture operations reduce food-safety risks, improve compliance, and access markets. Applications are submitted through the Climate Smart Agriculture Grant Program (CSAP). 

Is this program right for your project? 

This program may be a good fit if your project will:

• Reduce food-safety or contamination risks 
• Improve washing, packing, handling, sanitation, or storage 
• Address an audit, inspection, assessment, or regulatory concern 
• Improve compliance with applicable food-safety standards 
• Support access to wholesale, institutional, or regulated markets

Who can apply? 

Eligible Massachusetts produce and aquaculture operations may apply. Applicants must meet the agricultural-operation, operational-history, site-control, and other eligibility requirements in the current RFR.

Examples of eligible projects:

The examples below illustrate common eligible projects and are not intended to be a complete list. Applicants should review the current RFR for complete eligibility requirements.

Produce: 

• Harvest containers, bins, totes, and handling equipment 
• Produce washing systems 
• Packing lines, grading equipment, and packing tables 
• Food-grade conveyors 
• Handwashing 
• Water treatment and water-quality improvements 
• Drainage improvements that reduce food safety risks 
• Cold storage improvements 
• Packing shed improvements that enhance food safety and sanitation 
• Refrigeration and temperature monitoring systems
• Pest exclusion  
• Equipment or infrastructure that improves compliance with food safety standards or buyer requirements

Aquaculture: 

• Refrigeration and cold storage improvements 
• Ice machines and ice storage equipment 
• Temperature monitoring and control systems 
• Food-grade processing and handling tables 
• Food-grade containers, totes, and transport equipment 
• Handwashing and sanitation stations 
• Food safety improvements to processing, packing, or storage facilities 
• Equipment or infrastructure that improves compliance with shellfish handling requirements or other applicable food safety regulations

What projects are not a good fit?

• General farm production equipment not related to food safety 
• Value-added processing equipment 
• Retail display equipment 
• Routine maintenance

What should the project accomplish? 

Projects must address a clearly identified food-safety issue or need. Applicants should explain how the project will reduce risk, improve compliance, correct an identified deficiency, improve product handling, or support market access.

Funding: 

• Up to $50,000 
• 80% reimbursement
• 20% applicant contribution

Funding limits and eligibility requirements may change by grant round. Applicants must review the current RFR.

How projects are evaluated: 

Reviewers consider: 

• The seriousness and clarity of the food-safety issue 
• If the project helps meet regulatory and/or buyer requirements
• How directly the project addresses the identified need 
• Whether the goals and expected outcomes are clear and measurable 
• Project readiness and feasibility 
• Applicant capacity 
• Overall project value and funding priority

Reimbursement: 

Awards are reimbursement-based. Grantees must complete the approved project and provide invoices, proof of payment, photographs, and any other required documentation before payment.

Not sure if this is the right program? 

Projects intended primarily to reduce energy use or install renewable energy may be a better fit for the Agricultural Energy Grant Program.

Projects intended primarily to improve agricultural composting operations may be a better fit for the Agricultural Composting Improvement Grant Program.

Projects focused primarily on soil health, nutrient management, water quality, or other environmental conservation practices may be a better fit for the Agricultural Climate Resiliency (ACRE) Program.