By Blake Jackson
New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball announced that nearly $1.7 million has been awarded to 20 farm and food businesses across the state to help them purchase equipment aimed at strengthening and expanding the middle of New York’s food supply chain.
The funding, provided through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Grant Program, will support projects that enhance the processing, packing, storing, aggregating, and distributing food products grown or produced in New York. The initiative continues the state’s broader efforts to develop a more robust and sustainable food system.
“The ability to purchase critical new equipment will be a game changer for so many farm and food businesses and will allow them to get more fresh, local foods to New Yorkers," Commissioner Ball said. "I congratulate all of the awardees and look forward to seeing the impact these projects have on our communities.”
“The strategic combination of both the infrastructure and equipment-only rounds of the RFSI program will greatly impact the State’s middle-of-the-supply chain, providing more market access opportunities for our dairy, fruit, and vegetable farmers, as well as value-added producers," Todd Erling, President and CEO of the Farm and Food Growth Fund said.
"By supporting processing and aggregation, we can also enhance distribution by moving food more efficiently and to wider markets and institutional purchasing.”
Open to farm and food businesses throughout New York, the awards aim to boost the availability of New York-sourced food products in the market. A total of 20 entities across nine regions of the state received grants:
- Capital Region: Good Food Farmers Network LLC, Samascott Orchards, and The Amazing Real Live Food Company LLC (Chaseholm Farm Creamery) - $290,878
- Central New York: G & R D’Agostino Quality Produce Inc. and Reeves Farms LLC - $200,000
- Finger Lakes: Berryfield Bottling LLC (Red Jacket Orchards), Stony Brook Whole Hearted Foods LLC, and Sweet Farm Foundation - $284,000
- Mid-Hudson: Dartagnan Farms Foundation and Hudson Valley Fresh Dairy LLC - $139,502
- Mohawk Valley: George's Farm Products Inc. - $99,640
- New York City: Aunt Ethel's Pot Pies and Corbin Hill Food Project - $145,517
- North Country: Overflow Creamery and YC WORKS (Nature’s Storehouse) - $198,000
- Southern Tier: Norwich Meadows Farm LLC - $100,000
- Western New York: Barrel + Brine Inc., Carlberg Farm Livestock and Produce, FreshFix, and Perry-Dice Organics - $253,910
The state contributed $300,000, supplementing $1.39 million in federal funds, for a combined total of $1.69 million awarded.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-fatcamera
Categories: New York, Government & Policy