USDA Partners with Ag Producers to Expand Markets and Create Jobs in Rural Pennsylvania

USDA Rural Development sent this bulletin at 11/27/2023 12:00 PM EST

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USDA Rural Development - Together, America Prospers

News Release

USDA Rural Development
359 East Park Drive
Suite 4
Harrisburg, PA 17111-2747
https://www.rd.usda.gov/pa

Contact:
Daniel Blottenberger, (717) 237-2153
daniel.blottenberger@usda.gov

Manoff Market Cidery LCC in Bucks County was awarded a grant of $45,000 for processing and marketing activities to help launch a hard cider product into the Bucks County, Greater Philadelphia, and New Jersey areas. The goal of the project is to increase retail sales by promoting its products through print, visual and social media advertisements. This project is anticipated to increase its customer base by roughly 4,000 and its revenue by approximately $231,000 over a 15-month period. This project award was announced in February 2023.

USDA Partners with Ag Producers to Expand Markets and Create Jobs in Rural Pennsylvania

$765K Awarded to Four Rural Businesses Through The VAPG Program

HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 27, 2023 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) State Director Bob Morgan announced today that USDA is making investments that will expand markets for agricultural producers in rural Pennsylvania.

“The Biden-Harris Administration is bringing these investments where they are needed most to America’s farmers,” Morgan said. “The VAPG program helps to expand businesses, support more robust American supply chains and save jobs.”

Today’s investments in agricultural producers and rural entrepreneurs will create better economic opportunities that spur competition across Pennsylvania. This will result in more affordable prices and choices for consumers, as well as more opportunities and revenue for farmers, Morgan said.

Four grants totaling $765,784 were awarded to ag producers through the Value Added Producer Grant Program.

A grant of $250,000 was awarded to Integrated Ag LLC doing business as Down to Earth Harvest or DTEH in Chester County, Pennsylvania. This Rural Development investment will be used to provide working capital funds to support DTEH. The business is a small, direct marketing vegetable operation located just outside of Downingtown, Pennsylvania. Grant funds will be primarily used to implement a marketing plan to expand its customer base through an on-line marketing platform and processing various vegetable products that will be cleaned, boxed and ready to be delivered to customers. This project is anticipated to increase the farm's customer base by approximately 700 and increase its revenue by $444,000 over a three-year period.
A grant of $249,847 was awarded to Pocono Organics LLC to provide working capital funds to support the rural business in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. The funds will be utilized for processing and marketing hemp and microgreen powder. Microgreens are immature greens from vegetables and other crops that are harvested just after their cotyledon leaves are developed. They are a nutrient dense crop that have higher amounts of some vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants than the mature crops. This project is anticipated to increase the agricultural producer's customer base by three wholesale customers and increase its revenue by $346,200 over a three-year period.
A grant of $216,000 was awarded to Painterland Farms LLC in Tioga County, Pennsylvania. The grant will be used to provide working capital. This project will streamline the expansion of Painterland Farms' current Organic Icelandic-style Skyr Yogurt production and marketing. This project is anticipated to increase the farm's customer base by approximately 2,000 stores and increase its revenue by $3,539,598 over a one-year period.
A grant of $49,937 was awarded to Casa Carmen Inc. to provide working capital to the business located in West Grove, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Casa Carmen Inc. is a family-owned winery established in 2017. Grant funds will be utilized for processing, marketing and distribution of vermouth and sparkling wines. This project is anticipated to increase the winery's customer base by approximately 3,000 and increase its revenue by $418,000 over a three-year period.

This announcement was made in part of a national announcement from USDA.

USDA 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/pa.

To subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates in Pennsylvania, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.

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Rural Development
U.S. Department of Agriculture
359 East Park Drive, Suite 4 | Harrisburg, PA 17111-2747 Phone: 717.237.2153| Fax: 855.813.2863
www.rd.usda.gov/pa

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