Produce Distributor, PRO*ACT, is inviting qualifying local farms to apply for up to $30,000 from their grant program, Cultivating Change. With a total of $85,000 available for farms looking to fund new projects, PRO*ACT said it seeks to promote a culture of sustainability in the fresh food supply chain by encouraging innovation and environmentalism to local farms nationwide.
The application process opened on October 1st and will conclude on December 15th, 2018. Afterwards, a group of industry professionals will conduct a panel review, while the general public votes on their favorites. Both voting and panel review will conclude on January 31st, 2019, and the winners will be announced on February 4th, 2019.
At the end of this grant cycle, the company will have invested over $300,000 in projects through Cultivating Change grants. From microgreens to watermelons, farmers of all backgrounds have been able to meet their improvement and sustainability goals, PRO*ACT said.
Cultivating Change was originally launched in 2015 by PRO*ACT’s sustainability program, Greener Fields Together. Since its inception, the grant has funded projects for over 30 farms in 17 states – and PRO*ACT said that over half of all grant money going to women or minority-owned farms.
2017 winner Arizona Microgreens used their $5,000 grant for a germination chamber – which the company said is optimizing the growing process. “The Cultivating Change grant program shows us that PRO*ACT understands the ways in which small farms often face funding gaps” shared founder, Joseph Martinez, “this can make a huge difference for the viability of the farm. Winning a Cultivating Change grant closes the gap for us.”
Qualified farms from across the United States are invited to apply for a grant starting October 1st, and encourage their community to support them during the voting period
For more information:
Mackenzie Lovelace
PRO*ACT
Tel: +1 (831) 658-1963
mlovelace@proactusa.com
www.proactusa.com