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USDA Announces $750,000 Value Added Producer Grant Investments in Rural Georgia to Bring More Local Products to Market

Name
Deborah Brumfield
Phone
City
Albany, GA
Release Date

Albany, Ga., Oct. 27, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small today announced that USDA is awarding $750,000 in grants to expand new markets for Georgia grown agricultural products.

“America’s farmers, ranchers and rural business owners are innovative entrepreneurs and we are committed to ensuring they can make the most of their hard work with these grants,” Torres Small said. “The Biden-Harris Administration is proud to partner with these Georgia producers to champion their ideas and help them find new and better markets for their products.”

Torres Small made the announcement in Albany where Pippin Orchards will use a $250,000 grant for working capital to process and market shelled pecans to retail markets. Pippin Orchards is a third-generation family-owned farm.

Additional awards announced in Georgia today are below:

  • In Stephens County, Currahee Vineyard and Winery Inc. will use $250,000 grant and matching funds to produce and distribute four new carbonated wine products. Currahee is a small, family-owned winery creating hand-crafted wines from Vinifera, Muscadine and other native grapes.
  • In Hall County, Mulberry Springs Vineyard and Winery will use $250,000 grant and matching funds to produce and distribute new carbonated wine products. Mulberry Springs is a small, family-operated farm in Flowery Branch, Ga.

Background: Value Added Producer Grants

The Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program helps agricultural producers to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities, and increase producer income. Grants are awarded through a national competition. Each fiscal year, applications are requested through a notice published in the Federal Register and through an announcement posted on Grants.gov

VAPG is part of the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) which is an umbrella program created under the 2018 Farm Bill.

Grant and matching funds can be used for planning activities or for working capital expenses related to producing and marketing a value-added agricultural product. Examples of planning activities include conducting feasibility studies and developing business plans for processing and marketing the proposed value-added product. Examples of working capital expenses include processing costs, marketing and advertising expenses and some inventory and salary expenses.

Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans 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, tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit the GovDelivery subscriber page.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, 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 learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

 

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