Rural Development State Director Dave Conine today announced funding for a project in Utah County to help improve the operations and product marketability of a family-owned apple agricultural operation.
“This funding demonstrates USDA’s commitment to supporting small operations in Utah by encouraging them to develop new products, improve the bottom line for their operations and help create a robust local and regional food system,” Conine said.
The owners of Wall Brothers Orchards in Santaquin have received a grant of $250,000 to support the packaging and sale of multiple varieties and flavors of apple slices. This diversifies their operations and allows them to have more control in their final product. The funding comes from USDA Rural Development’s Value-Added Producer Grant program.
Value-Added Producer Grants can be used to develop new agricultural products or additional markets for existing ones. Military veterans, socially-disadvantaged and beginning farmers and ranchers, operators of small- and medium-sized family farms and ranches, and farmer and rancher cooperatives are given priority when applying for these grants.
Funding of each award announced is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the grant agreement.
Value-Added Producer Grants are a key element of USDA’s Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Initiative, which coordinates the Department’s work on local and regional food systems. These are major contributors to rural economic development. Congress increased funding for the Value-Added program when it passed the 2014 Farm Bill. That measure builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past seven years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for taxpayers.