Texans Feeding Texans: Surplus Agricultural Products Grant Program

The Texans Feeding Texans: Surplus Agricultural Products Grant Program is administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture through Rural Programs and Financial Assistance. The program was established under Texas Agriculture Code Chapter 21 to support the collection and distribution of surplus agricultural products to Texas food banks and other charitable organizations serving needy or low-income individuals. The grant helps offset costs related to harvesting, gleaning, collecting, and transporting surplus agricultural products. Eligible agricultural products include agricultural, apicultural, horticultural, or vegetable food products for human consumption, including fish or aquatic species, livestock products, poultry products, wildlife processed for food, fruits, vegetables, and grains. Surplus includes products grown in excess of a producer's needs and other producer-available products distributed to food banks or charitable organizations serving low-income populations. Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations recognized by the IRS as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3). Applicants must operate for religious, charitable, or educational purposes, not for financial gain, and may not distribute income to members, directors, or officers. In addition, the organization must have at least five years of experience coordinating a statewide network of food banks and charitable organizations serving every county in Texas and must operate a program that coordinates collection and transportation of surplus agricultural products to that statewide network. Funding is subject to available state appropriations. For the 2026-2027 biennium, awards are limited to a total maximum aggregate award of $9,875,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $9,875,000 in fiscal year 2027, with total budget requests not to exceed $19,750,000. Funding is generally reimbursement-based, although TDA may approve a one-time advance of up to 10 percent of the grant award for working capital needs. No matching funds or in-kind donations are required. At least $5,000,000 each fiscal year must be used to provide food and may not be used for facility expansion or renovation, increasing capacity, transportation, equipment, technology, personnel, administration, indirect administration, or generators. Applications must be submitted online through TDA-GO. Required application sections include application contact information, project narrative, budget details, administrative form uploads, and certification. Required uploads include the Application for Texas Identification Number, Direct Deposit Authorization, and W-9 Federal Tax Form. Optional supporting documentation may also be uploaded. Applications must be electronically signed and submitted in TDA-GO; mailed, emailed, faxed, or separately submitted supplemental materials are not accepted. Applications are reviewed administratively and evaluated for relevance and effectiveness, feasibility and efficiency, and impact. TDA considers whether the proposal aligns with program goals, whether the project approach and budget are realistic, and how the project will serve needy or low-income individuals. Grant recipients must monitor performance, use funds only for approved activities, maintain adequate accounting records and internal controls, submit periodic performance reports through TDA-GO, and retain records for at least four years after project completion. The RFGA deadline was October 15, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Central Time. The anticipated grant start date was November 1, 2025, and the anticipated end date is October 31, 2027. The public program page states that the next program deadline is contingent upon state appropriations and will be available in Fall 2027. Program questions may be directed to TDA Rural Programs and Financial Assistance at Grants@TexasAgriculture.gov. The primary contact listed is Kat Neilson, Grants Specialist, at 512-463-6695, and the secondary contact is Mindy Fryer, Director of Rural Programs and Financial Assistance.

Align the proposal directly with the collection and transportation of surplus agricultural products to food banks serving needy or low-income individuals. Clearly explain relevance, effectiveness, feasibility, efficiency, measurable goals, realistic budget and timeframe, and project impact. Ensure all required uploads are attached in TDA-GO and submit before the deadline because late, emailed, mailed, faxed, or externally submitted materials will not be accepted.