$196 Million Investment Supports New White House Council on Supply Chain Resilience
WASHINGTON, Nov. 27, 2023 – USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA is making investments that will expand markets for agricultural producers and strengthen American food and agriculture supply chains in 37 states as well as Puerto Rico. Maximiliano J. Trujillo-Ortega, USDA Rural Development State Director for Puerto Rico indicated that four of these projects are in Puerto Rico.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is championing America’s farmers and ranchers by helping to expand businesses, support more robust American supply chains and save jobs,” Vilsack said. “Today’s investments in agricultural producers and rural entrepreneurs will create better economic opportunities that spur competition and bolster food supply chains across the country. This will result in more affordable prices and choices for consumers, as well as more opportunities and revenue for farmers.”
Today’s announcement was made as part of the inaugural meeting of the new White House Council on Supply Chain Resilience which is part of President Biden’s agenda to bring down costs for American families and increase investment in America’s supply chains critical to economic and national security. Today’s funding builds on prior investments made by USDA under President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to increase competition, enhance independent meat and poultry and other diversified food processing capacity, strengthen local and regional food systems and expand domestic, innovative fertilizer production.
Trujillo-Ortega indicated that four Agricultural Producers in the island were awarded Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) for a total amount of $770,000.
For example:
- Fincas Luis Roig Inc., in Yauco, Puerto Rico was awarded a $250,000 VAPG grant to for the processing and marketing of package roasted coffee. This project is expected to save 10 jobs.
- Nestor Reyes Farm & Associate Inc., a farm located in Rio Grande Puerto Rico was awarded a $250,000 grant for the production and marketing of packaged eggs. The eggs will packaged in translucent cartons with the appropriate branding, labels and nutritional information, making them ready for commercialization. This project is expected to create 10 jobs.
- Loyd Sanabria Hernandez, Agricultural Producer of the municipality of Salinas, Puerto Rico was awarded a $250,000 VAPG grant to process and market package and classified raw table eggs.
- De Mi Tierra A Mi Pueblo Corp., in the municipality of Caguas, Puerto Rico was awarded a $20,000 VAPG grant for the processing and marketing of package coriander.
USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America.
To subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit the GovDelivery subscriber page.
You can follow us at our Twitter Account @RD_PuertoRico or visiting our website: www.rd.usda.gov/pr
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.