For Immediate Release
April 12, 2018
Contact: Jessica
Nixon, (207) 287-3494
John Bott, (207) 287-3156
Agricultural
Development Grants Announced
Investments in Wild Blueberries, Vegetables and
Organic Poultry Processing
LEGISLATURE’S HALL OF FLAGS – Commissioner
Walt Whitcomb announced five (5) Agricultural Development Grant Program awards totaling
$187,735 during Ag Day at the Maine Legislature. The projects address critical needs
in the agricultural industry, Washington County in
particular, for development of new markets and processing techniques for wild
blueberries and organic poultry processing. They also include support for the
creation of value-added vegetable products that can be marketed on a
global scale.
“The investments being
announced today support producers and processors of Maine wild blueberries;
value-added vegetable products to compete in the global marketplace; and
organic poultry processing in Washington County,” said Governor Paul R. LePage.
“Maine’s reputation for quality, locally-grown products, combined with the
resourcefulness of the Maine people, will help agriculture realize its full
economic potential.”
Commissioner
Walt Whitcomb highlighted Maine’s efforts to support farmers and producers through
enhanced marketing, technical support and promotion of Maine agriculture
locally, nationally and internationally.
“Selected
projects
address critical needs in the agricultural industry,
Washington County in particular, for development of new markets and processing
techniques for wild blueberries and organic poultry processing,” said Whitcomb.
“They also include support for the creation of value-added vegetable products
that can be marketed on a global scale. We congratulate the grantees and look forward to successful
implementation of their projects.”
The selected
projects were chosen by a review committee from thirty-five (35) qualified
proposals submitted in response to a formal Request For Proposals (RFP). Of those
proposals received and reviewed by a committee in a competitive review process,
five (5) projects were selected.
FY18
Agricultural Development Grants
-
Blue Sky Produce
(Scarborough) - $10,000
In
order to help stimulate demand for frozen wild blueberries, Blue Sky Produce
and 13 fresh-pack wild blueberry growers will conduct 40 educational demonstrations
for fresh wild blueberries in retail stores in New York and New Jersey
-
LaJoie Growers,
LLC (Van Buren) - $50,000
LaJoie
Growers will expand vegetable and dehydrating processing capabilities to
produce a value-added dehydrated beet product that can be marketed on a global
scale.
-
Tide Mill Organics
(Edmunds Township) - $50,000
Tide
Mill Organics will improve its organic poultry processing plant in Washington
County to become a State-Inspected Processing Facility and to develop
value-added products, such as ground turkey and chicken, poultry sausages, and
pet food.
-
University of
Maine (Orono) - $27,735
Dr.
Jennifer Perry of the School of Food and Agriculture will conduct research to
optimize aqueous washing procedures for wild blueberries growers and processors
to ensure improved food safety.
-
Wild Blueberry
Commission of Maine (Orono) - $50,000
The Wild Blueberry Commission will expand its marketing program to expand sales of
frozen Wild Blueberries in the nation’s public schools.
Agricultural Development Grant Program
In 2014,
the Legislature approved Department language that improved access to the Agricultural
Development Fund. The Department identified the agricultural industry need for
accelerating new market development, adoption of improved technology and
promotion of agricultural products produced in Maine.
The
Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry may allocate the grant
funds among projects involving market research, market promotion, or a
combination of those activities for the purpose of expanding existing markets
and developing new markets for agricultural products produced in Maine; or for
testing and demonstrating new technologies related to the production, storage
or processing of State agricultural products.
It is
anticipated that another Agricultural Development Fund RFP will be released in
the future.
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