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CDFA - Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program

CDFA - Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program

Phone number
(916) 657-3231
Category
Food
Nonprofit
Auto tags
Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program
CDFA
RFSI
Eligibility
Agricultural producers or processors, Nonprofit organizations, Local government entities, Tribal governments, Institutions such as schools, universities, or hospitals
Auto Summary
CDFA's Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) program funds equipment and infrastructure for middle-of-the-supply-chain food businesses in California — processing, aggregation, storage, and distribution. The 2025 equipment-only round (awards $10,000–$100,000, no match) closed July 17, 2025. No 2026 round has been announced as of May 2026. Join the CDFA email list for updates.
Value
Varies by round ($10K–$3M)
Espanol
CDFA - Programa de Infraestructura de Sistemas Alimentarios Resilientes - Este programa ofrece subvenciones para fortalecer la cadena de suministro de alimentos en California, apoyando a pequenos agricultores y negocios de alimentos. Hay dos tipos de subvenciones: infraestructura (hasta $3 millones) y solo equipos (hasta $100,000).
URL
https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/rfsi/
Last verified 2026-05-17
CDFA Home  2. Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program 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 Grant Proposals The RFSI is comprised of two tracks composed of different project types: Infrastructure Grants and Simplified Equipment-Only Project Grants. Track 1: Infrastructure Grants will fund projects that expand capacity and infrastructure for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, or distribution of targeted agricultural products. Applicants may request between $100,000 and $3,000,000. Matching Funds are required for this grant type. Apply here for Track 1 - Infrastructure Grant Track 2: The Simplified Equipment-Only option is a Fixed Price Grant, meaning it will fund only equipment purchases (and not associated facility upgrades, staffing, or other costs), and the amount awarded will be equal to the cost of the equipment up to $100,000. No match is required for this grant type. Apply here for Track 2 – Simplified Equipment-Only Grant Eligible Entities Entities eligible for Infrastructure Grants are listed below. • Agricultural producers or processors, or groups of agricultural producers and processors. • Nonprofit organizations operating middle-of-the-supply-chain activities. • Local government entities operating middle-of-the-supply-chain activities. • Tribal governments operating middle-of-the-supply-chain activities. • Institutions such as schools, universities, or hospitals bringing producers together to establish cooperative or shared infrastructure or invest in equipment that will benefit multiple producers middle-of-the-supply-chain activities. Match Requirement for Infrastructure Grants Infrastructure Grant recipients are required to contribute 50% of the total proposed project cost as a match to federal funding. This applies to all applicants except those who qualify for the reduced match described below. For historically underserved farmers and ranchers, or for other businesses that qualify under Small Business Administration (SBA) categories of small disadvantaged business, women-owned small business, or veteran-owned small business, the required match funding contribution or cost share is reduced to 25% of the project cost. Applicant Resources • Request for Proposals (RFP)  • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)  • Questions and Answers (Q&A)  Grant Proposal Webinars and Office HoursGrant Proposal WebinarsWednesday, December 20, 2023 • RFSI Webinar Recording: Application Process  • RFSI Webinar Recording: Proposal  • RFSI Webinar Recording: AmpliFund System 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.Click on times to register for the webinar.Monday, January 8, 202410:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.Thursday, February 1, 20241:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.Office HoursThursday, January 4, 2024 • RFSI Office Hours Recording: Eligibility and Project Types 1:30 pm – 2:30 p.m.Click on times to register for the Zoom meeting.Passcode for all office hours will be:2024RFSI!Tuesday, January 9, 2024 • RFSI Office Hours Recording: Application Process Tips and Tricks 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.Wednesday, January 17, 2024 • Office Hours Recording: Frequently Asked Questions Part II  • Critical Resource Infrastructure Letter template 10:00 a.m. – 11 a.m.Thursday, January 25, 2024 • Office Hours Recording: RFSI Program Overview  • Office Hours Recording: Descripción general del programa RFSI (en español) 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.Tuesday, January 30, 2024 • Office Hours Recording: AmpliFund Budget Walkthrough 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.Wednesday, February 7, 2024 • Office Hours Recording: De Minimis and Indirect Costs Overview 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.Tuesday, February 13, 2024 • Office Hours Recording: Grant Management 10:00 a.m. – 11 a.m.
FLAG: No 2026 round has been announced as of May 17, 2026. The 2025 equipment-only solicitation closed July 17, 2025. Check cdfa.ca.gov/rfsi or join the CDFA email list for the next round.

What this program does

The Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) program is a grant from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), funded by USDA. It pays for equipment and infrastructure that helps small and mid-sized food and farm businesses process, store, package, or distribute food (the "middle" of the supply chain — not growing food, not selling it to customers).
Meat and poultry are not covered. Other USDA programs fund those.

Current status (May 2026)

  • The original $100,000–$3,000,000 Infrastructure Grant track from 2024 has not been offered again since.

Who qualifies (based on recent rounds)

You must operate in California and work in the middle of the food supply chain (processing, aggregation, storage, distribution, or wholesale). Eligible applicants include:
  • Farmers and food processors, or groups of them
  • Nonprofits doing food processing or distribution
  • Local governments
  • Tribal governments
  • Schools, universities, or hospitals bringing producers together
[Source: cdfa.ca.gov/rfsi (accessed 2026-05-17)]

How much (recent rounds)

  • 2025 equipment-only: $10,000–$100,000, no match
  • 2024 infrastructure track: $100,000–$3,000,000, 50% match (25% for historically underserved farmers, women-, veteran-, or small-disadvantaged-owned businesses)
Future round amounts may differ.

How to apply

  1. Watch cdfa.ca.gov/rfsi for a new Request for Proposals.
  1. Read the RFP carefully — eligibility rules and required documents are specific.
  1. Applications go through the AmpliFund / GoToMyGrants portal linked from the CDFA page.
  1. CDFA hosts free webinars and office hours during each open round. Recordings of past sessions are on the RFSI page.

Common pitfalls

  • Wrong supply-chain stage. Projects must be in processing, aggregation, storage, or distribution. Growing crops or running a retail storefront does not qualify.
  • Meat and poultry. Not eligible under this program.
  • Match documentation. For infrastructure-track grants when offered, the 50% (or 25%) match must be documented. Cash, in-kind, or third-party contributions can count, but rules are specific.
  • Equipment cost ceilings. In 2025, equipment totaling $200,000 or more was ineligible even with matching funds. Check the current RFP.

Where to get help

  • CDFA Office of Grants Administration: (916) 657-3231
  • California Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF): Offers application support for small farms — caff.org

Sources