Source:  USDA, 8/19/14

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced that 247 farm businesses from 46 states will receive nearly $25 million in grants from the 2014 round of the Value-Added Producer Grants program.  The Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) program awards competitive grants that facilitate the creation and development of value-added, farmer-owned businesses.  

“The VAPG program has been a priority of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) since the program’s beginning in 2000,” said Ferd Hoefner, NSAC Policy Director.  “We are pleased the new projects are now off and running to help improve farm income, create jobs, and develop new markets.”

The VAPG program contributes to farmer-led job and business creation in rural areas, while enhancing food choices for consumers.  Individual independent agricultural producers, groups of independent producers, producer-controlled entities, organizations representing agricultural producers, and farmer or rancher cooperatives are eligible.  VAPG grants may be used for working capital or to develop business plans and feasibility studies for new ventures.

NSAC campaigned for improvements to the program made in the 2008 Farm Bill, including a consideration of local food enterprises and food supply networks linking farm to table, plus program priorities for assisting small and mid-size family farms as well as beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.  

In the 2014 Farm Bill, Congress clarified how program priorities are to be assessed and added returning veteran farmers as a new priority category.  The 2014 bill also provided $63 million in mandatory (direct) farm bill funding for VAPG to supplement the annual appropriation the program receives.  The substantive changes and mandatory funding were NSAC farm bill priorities.

“Congress made a good decision to increase funding for this rural economic stimulus program,” said NSAC Policy Specialist Eugene Kim.  “We are particularly keen on the ability of the value-added agriculture to improve prospects for small and mid-scale farms and for growing the local and regional food market.”

The term “value-added” describes a process whereby an agricultural commodity or product has undergone a change in physical state or was produced, marketed, or segregated (i.e., identity-preserved, eco-labeling) in a manner that enhances its value or expands the product’s customer base.  

Click here for the complete list of the new Value-Added Producer Grant award recipients.


NC ag operations receiving funding include:

Nooherooka Natural, LLC $40,000
Rural Development funds will be used to increase production of heritage  pork cuts and further‐processed meat products, and expand pork sales in  eastern and central NC through current and new distributor and customer  outlets.  

Hero Farms, Inc. $200,000
Rural Development funds will be used to pay for contracted labor,  packaging and delivery of value‐added products, labeling and marketing of  a variety of produce grown by 84 Montagnard Refugees.  Value‐added  products include spring mixed salad greens, vegetable stir‐fry, and a fruit  and vegetable bar.

Sunburst Trout Farms, LLC $148,579
Rural Development funds will be used for working capital to expand  markets for Trout Jerky and Caviar into the Western and Southeastern  USA.

M & M Produce, Inc. $75,000
Rural Development funds will be used to conduct economic and technical  feasibility for Quality Management and Food Safety practices, and a  business and marketing plan will be completed to identify new retail and  institutional markets as a direct result of the food safety certified value‐ added products.

Summerfield Farms DFC, LLC $75,000
Rural Development funds will be used to conduct feasibility and economic  planning to differentiate exclusively grass‐fed cattle and increase profits  via a source‐traceable Quick‐Response barcode system on the meat label,  identify and merchandize specialty cuts and muscles in the carcass to  reach unique markets, and develop new product options utilizing the hide  and bones.

Simply Natural Dairy Farms, LLC $180,000
Rural Development funds will be used to process milk into yogurt,  pasteurized bottled milk, flavored milks, half and half, heavy cream and  butter.  

Calderon Produce, Inc. $200,000
Rural Development funds will be used to implement food safety and  quality management processes and marketing elements identified during  the previously awarded VAPG planning grant to expand markets to direct  consumer retail and institutional customers.