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Value Added Grants going to growers 44 states
The USDA has announced more than $40 million in value added producer grants are being given to nearly 300 recipients in 44 states and Puerto Rico. The grants fall in two categories: planning grants and working capital grants. Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan says they do require a dollar-for-dollar match. Merrigan announced the grants in Chicago after giving the keynote address at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago for the Local/Regional Food System Conference.
Asked by reporters whether the USDA will insist on mandatory funding for Value Added Producer Grants, Merrigan said they know the program works – but Congress writes the farm bill. “I’m too poor to put any money down on the table what’s happening this farm bill season. I’m as confused as can be.”
Merrigan says the Value Added grants DO help producers – and will be featured in the USDA’s report about the Know Your Farmer – Know Your Food Initiative as mandated by the Fiscal Year 2012 appropriations bill, “Generally, we think anything that helps farmers improve their bottom line, whether they’re doing local, whether they’re doing export markets – that’s the business of USDA and we’re going to stay in that business.”
Merrigan said Living Water Farms, in Strawn, Illinois, is one of the grant recipients – using the funds to expand their hydroponically-grown greens for specialty markets – their current customers include Illinois grocery stores, restaurants in Chicago and St. Louis and a “Midwest college food service program.”
AUDIO: Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan, Conference Call (18:00 mp3)
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