Pro*Act has chosen 14 recipients for the latest round of Cultivating Change Local Farm Grant Program, boosting their food safety, sustainability and wholesale readiness efforts.
The $75,000 in grant money went to fruit and vegetable growers across the U.S., and one in Canada, a first since the grants began in 2015. So far, more than $400,000 has been awarded to 52 farms, according to a news release.
Projects included everything from fences to keep wildlife out to improve food safety, renewable energy projects, greenhouse expansion and a pathogen testing lab.
A YouTube video highlights the latest round of grants.
“Our distributors work year-round with family farms to bring their locally-grown product to foodservice and retail customers” Brian Denton, director of marketing for Pro*Act, said in the release. “This program is a way to continue those investments, and build local farms that are so vital to their communities.”
Grants for food safety-related projects are going to these growers (with Pro*Act distributors):
- Frecon Fruit Farms, $10,000, Boyertown, Pa., (Seashore Fruit and Produce);
- Sunsprout Farms of Central Ohio, $7,000, Columbus, Ohio (Premier ProduceOne);
- Long and Scott Farms, $4,000, Mount Dora, Fla. (Weyand); and
- Eden Valley Growers, $2,500, Eden, N.Y. (Antonucci’s).
Grants for sustainability projects are going to:
- East Texas Aquaponics, $10,000, Mineola, Texas (Hardie’s Fresh Foods-Dallas);
- Willie Greens Organic Farm, $7,000, Monroe, Wash. (Charlie’s Produce);
- EA Parker & Sons LLC, $3,500, Colonial Beach, Va. (Royal Food Service);
- Ferme Victoire et Michel Palardy, $2,000, Sainte-Madeleine, Quebec (Hector Larivee); and
- Hungenberg Produce, $2,000, Greeley Colo. (Freshpack Produce).
Projects to boost farmers’ wholesale readiness are:
- Spring Valley Gardens, $10,000, West Sunbury, Pa. (Paragon);
- Quarry Hill Orchards, $7,000), Berlin Heights, Ohio (Premier ProduceOne);
- Blooming Junction, $4,000, Cornelius, Ore. (Pacific Coast Fruit Co.);
- Four Elements Farm, $4,000, South Hill, Wash. (Charlie’s Produce); and
- Triple Eaton Farms, $2,000, Mount Olive, Miss. (Capital City Produce).
Related stories:
14 U.S. farms win Cultivating Change grants
Growers receive Cultivating Change grants through Pro*Act
