U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials from across the country visited the Center for an Agricultural Economy in Hardwick Thursday to announce grant funding to two farms connected with the Center, Snug Valley Farm of Hardwick and Sweet Rowen Farmstead of Glover. Both farms received Value Added Producer Grants from the USDA to strengthen their businesses through product development, distribution and marketing.
“Through the Value Added Producer Grant program, USDA Rural Development invests both in the quality of food and the quality of life in rural areas,” said USDA Rural Development Administrator for Business-Cooperative Service Sam Rikkers. “By providing small farms and forestry operations with a path towards profitability, the creation and marketing of value added products enhances the quality of life in Vermont’s most rural areas and creates an economic means to preserve the state’s working landscape.”
The USDA made the announcement at the Center for an Agricultural Economy, a non-profit whose mission is to engage the public in building a regenerative, locally based, healthy food system. Sarah Waring, the Center’s executive director, noted that the non-profit works closely with local and regional farmers offering technical assistance through their business incubation programs, market expansion through their farm-to-institution program, and processing and storage space for farmers seeking to increase the diversity of their products at their Vermont Food Venture Center facility. Since 2010, the USDA has awarded the non-profit five grants through its Rural Businesses Development Grant program to support the Center’s efforts to create and retain jobs in the region.
Snug Valley Farm produces quality meats from their pasture raised beef cattle and swine herds. Rikkers announced that the farm aims to increase production and sales by 15% over the upcoming three years with support from a $199,154 Value Added Producer Grant. A portion of the grant will go towards paying rental fees for cold storage to the Center of an Agricultural Economy’s Food Venture Center. Additionally, the grant will help pay for marketing and distribution expenses, processing and slaughter fees and new product development.
Sweet Rowen Farmstead in Glover produces artisan cheese from their herd of lineback heifers, a breed whose long tenure in northern Vermont have made them a classic feature of Vermont’s landscape. Rikkers announced that the farmstead is receiving a $49,550 Value Added Producer Grant to improve their creamery to attain FDA Grade A certification and redesign their labels to reflect this status. Additionally, the farm will use the grant to improve the packaging and distribution of their cheese. Ultimately, the farm expects to expand their products to a larger market and increase business profitability. In 2011, the farm received start-up capital from the Vermont Farm Fund, a revolving loan fund started by USDA partner Pete’s Greens and currently managed by the Center for an Agricultural Economy. The loan enabled the farmstead to develop past their initial growth phase.
Rikkers noted that the Value Added Producer Grant program provides farmers and producers with grants to develop products out of a raw commodity that they produce in order to increase the retail value of the product. The program also provides beneficiaries with funding to market and distribute these value added products.
USDA, through its RD mission area, administers and manages housing, business and community infrastructure programs through a national network of state and local offices. Rural Development has an active portfolio of $214 billion in loans and loan guarantees. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural areas. For more information on Rural Development visit the Vermont Rural Development website (www.rd.usda.gov/vt ) or contact USDA RD at (802) 828-6000.