Title 7AgricultureRelease 119-73not60

§3004 Direct Marketing Assistance Within the States

Title 7 › Chapter 63— FARMER–TO–CONSUMER DIRECT MARKETING › § 3004

Last updated Apr 3, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must use the money for this program to help state agriculture departments (and the Secretary) start, grow, or coordinate ways for farmers to sell directly to consumers, inside and between states. Money is given to each state based on how likely direct sales are to work there compared with other states. Inside a state, the funds are split between the state agriculture department and the Secretary based on the kinds of work needed, as the Secretary decides. Work paid for by the funds includes holding meetings to share information; gathering laws and rules, drafting needed enabling laws, picking good sites for new market facilities, and making practical guides; and giving technical help to people or groups who want to set up direct sales. The Secretary must also work with governors and designated state agencies to train farmers’ market managers, help managers share information, train cooperative extension staff in direct-marketing skills, and work with producers to build farmers’ markets. Consumer preferences and needs must be considered.

Full Legal Text

Title 7, §3004

Agriculture — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In order to promote the establishment and operation of direct marketing from farmers to consumers, the Secretary shall provide that funds appropriated to carry out this section be utilized by State departments of agriculture and the Secretary for the purpose of conducting or facilitating activities which will initiate, encourage, develop, or coordinate methods of direct marketing from farmers to consumers within or among the States. Such funds shall be allocated to a State on the basis of the feasibility of direct marketing from farmers to consumers within that State as compared to other States and shall be allocated within a State to the State department of agriculture and to the Secretary on the basis of the types of activities which are needed in the State, as determined by the Secretary. The activities shall include, but shall not be limited to—
(1)sponsoring conferences which are designed to facilitate the sharing of information (among farm producers, consumers, and other interested persons or groups) concerning the establishment and operation of direct marketing from farmers to consumers;
(2)compiling laws and regulations relevant to the conduct of the various methods of such direct marketing within the State, formulating drafts of enabling legislation needed to facilitate such direct marketing, determining feasible locations for additional facilities for such direct marketing, and preparing and disseminating practical information on the establishment and operation of such direct marketing; and
(3)providing technical assistance for the purpose of aiding interested individuals or groups in the establishment of arrangements for direct marketing from farmers to consumers.
(b)The Secretary shall—
(1)work with the Governor of a State, and a State agency designated by the Governor, to develop programs to train managers of farmers’ markets;
(2)develop opportunities to share information among managers of farmers’ markets;
(3)establish a program to train cooperative extension service employees in the development of direct marketing techniques; and
(4)work with producers to develop farmers’ markets.
(c)In the implementation of this section, the Secretary shall take into account consumer preferences and needs which may bear upon the establishment and operation of arrangements for direct marketing from farmers to consumers.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2002—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–171, § 10605(b)(2)(A), substituted “Secretary for the purpose” for “Extension Service of the United States Department of Agriculture for the purpose”, “Secretary on the basis” for “Extension Service on the basis”, and “, as determined by the Secretary” for “and on the basis of which of these two agencies, or combination thereof, can best perform these activities”. Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 107–171, § 10605(b)(2)(B), (C), added subsec. (b) and redesignated former subsec. (b) as (c).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

7 U.S.C. § 3004

Title 7Agriculture

Last Updated

Apr 3, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60