Jackson, MS - October 2, 2020 – The Trump Administration today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing nearly $100,000 to help agricultural producers in Mississippi increase production of value-added goods. Funding will come from USDA’s Value-Added Producer Grant Program.
The goals of the program are to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities, and increase producer income by assisting agricultural producers with entering value-added activities related to the processing and/or marketing of new products.
“This program can help bring your ideas to life, whether you’re a rancher that wants to market your products to local restaurants, a producer that needs assistance funding your new line of jams and preservatives, or supplying local restaurants with local produce,” said John Campbell, State Director for Rural Development in Mississippi. “Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA has been working tirelessly to be a strong partner to rural Mississippi in building stronger and healthier communities, because we know when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”
Examples of projects in Mississippi include:
- Salad Days, LLC – Salad Days is a hydroponic farm that is family owned and operated in Flora, a small community located in Madison County, Mississippi. Salad Days specializes in growing pesticide-free produce and is able to supply a wide variety of lettuce 365 days a year. Salad Days’ working capital grant funds will be used to capitalize on an emerging niche market for hydroponically grown lettuce. With this project, Salad Days will double its production to serve the demand of the existing customer base and could supply additional customers in a larger geographical area. With this assistance, they’ll be able to supply a healthy and safe source of lettuce that encourages a greater consumption of leafy greens, while added revenue from additional lettuce production will benefit the business and local community.
- Uncle Jerry’s Farm - Uncle Jerry's Farm, located in the unincorporated community of Pocahontas, Hinds County, Mississippi, specializes in growing specialty mushrooms. The working capital grant funds will be used to focus on and support the marketing and expansion of Mississippi locally grown specialty mushrooms to individuals, restaurants, chefs, farmers' market and grocery stores.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
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