USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on Oct., 27 that USDA is providing more than $45 million to help farmers, ranchers, small businesses, and entrepreneurs nationwide develop new product lines. USDA is investing in 325 projects through the Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program.
“Value-Added Producer Grants are one of USDA’s most sought-after funding sources for veteran and beginning farmers, and rural-based businesses,” Vilsack says. “These grants provide a much-needed source of financing to help producers develop new product lines and increase their income, and keep that income in their communities. Economic development initiatives like this one are working – the unemployment rate in rural America is at an eight-year low and incomes rose 3.4% last year. Small business entrepreneurship, which Value-Added Producer Grants support, is a major reason why rural America is a making a comeback.”
VAPG grants can be used to develop new product lines from raw agricultural products or promote additional uses for established products. Veterans, socially-disadvantaged groups, beginning farmers and ranchers, operators of small- and medium-sized family farms and ranches, and farmer and rancher cooperatives are given special priority.
Fifer Orchards Inc. in Camden Wyoming, DE, has been selected for a $250,000 grant to expand marketing efforts to process, package, and receive apples for the family-owned orchard. Fifer sells its produce through its farm and country store, at farmers’ markets, and wholesale to schools, restaurants, and grocery stores.
Source: growingproduce.com
