Area farmers looking for local markets for small-scale growing operations have a new resource that will help them process, store and distribute produce to restaurants, food pantries and other buyers.

Representatives from four Madison-area organizations gathered Tuesday morning at a near northside facility that is now home to the Foodshed Partnership, a federally funded collaborative effort to match local produce with local markets.

The partnership is a collaborative effort from REAP Food Group, Pasture and Plenty, FairShare CSA Coalition and the Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin. It intends to help farmers in Dane, Waukesha and Jefferson counties overcome transportation challenges and find new markets.

The $6 million program gives farmers an outlet for small-scale crops, some of which might be cosmetically imperfect but still nutritious.

The organization’s new space is at 1902 Wright St. near the Madison College campus. This 10,000-square-foot warehouse was previously used by the Community Action Coalition (CAC) as a food bank for food pantries across South Central Wisconsin. It includes a prep kitchen and a processing room, where produce is diced and washed.