Contacts:
United States Department of Agriculture - Rural Development
World Wide Web: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov

Montpelier, VT: Jack Gleason, Senior Advisor to USDA Rural Development (RD) Under Secretary Thomas Dorr, joined USDA RD State Director Jolinda H. LaClair, to present four ceremonial checks totaling more than $397,000 in grants to agricultural producers in Vermont. The grants, obtained from USDA Rural Development’s Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG) Program, cover costs to develop and market value added agricultural products and must be matched 1:1 with funds from the grantee. The ultimate goal of the program is to increase profitability to agricultural producers.

"Vermont farms remain the cornerstone of the working landscape and economy in our rural communities," said Gleason. "Supporting efforts to increase their bottom line through value-added product development is a major emphasis of the USDA Rural Development business assistance programs."

Chris and Michaela Granstrom, owners of Lincoln Peak Vineyard LLC in New Haven, VT, hosted the funding announcement. Lincoln Peak Vineyard was the recipient of a $116,550 grant that will be used as working capital. “The goal of this project is to add value to our farm crop of grapes by processing the grapes into wine at our farm winery, and marketing the wine, thereby increasing the profitability of our current grape production,” said Granstrom. A $22,250 VAPG, awarded to Lincoln Peak Vineyard in 2006, was used to develop feasibility, marketing and business plans for the creation of a winery to add value to the farm crop of grapes.

Agri-Mark/Cabot Creamery Cooperative, Inc. received a $149,000 VAPG that will be used to expand production of its premium-market, natural rind cheddar cheese. “At this time, due to limited aging capacity, the availability of Cabot Clothbound Cheddar is extremely restricted,” said Jed Davis, Cabot Creamery Director of Marketing. “This grant will allow us to work with the Cellars at Jasper Hill in Greensboro, Vt., to create this very labor-intensive cheese in quantities that will begin to satisfy the current demand, estimated at more than ten-fold the level of our current production.” Cabot Clothbound Cheddar was named "Best of Show" by the American Cheese Society in 2006. Cabot Creamery graciously provided cheese for the funding announcement event.

Lincoln AgriSource, LLC of Randolph Center, VT received a $74,412 VAPG. Samuel Lincoln, owner of Lincoln AgriSource, will use the grant money to formulate a business and marketing plan to add value to his timber harvesting enterprise. The project will examine the feasibility of converting pulp, a low-grade wood product, into a biomass fuel for an on-farm renewable energy operation. “I see this on-farm energy initiative as an opportunity to preserve and advance agriculture and establish an alternative stronghold in the clean, renewable energy market that forms the base for a sustainable statewide economy,” said Lincoln. Begun in 1996 as a custom planting and harvesting business for dairy farmers, Lincoln AgriSource L.L.C. has expanded to provide farmers in New England and eastern New York with high quality tillage and planting equipment, timber harvesting for Central Vermont landowners, and dry hay and forages for dairy, equine, sheep and goats.

Pete’s Greens and Good Eats will use a $57,055 VAPG to expand Good Eats Community Supported Agriculture initiative from 100 to 250 shares, increase the utilization of an on-farm, commercial kitchen, develop a year-round farmers’ market in Montpelier, VT, and develop a year-round on-farm retail store. Pete Johnson has been producing high quality, organic salad greens in Craftsbury and Greensboro VT since 1996. In 2004, he added 190 acres in Craftsbury and greatly increased his production of other vegetables. In 2006, in response to consumer interest, Johnson developed Good Eats, which provides a year-round outlet for the sale of vegetables grown by Pete’s Greens as well as food produced by other farms in northern Vermont and southern Quebec. Since that time, Johnson has installed an on-farm commercial kitchen and developed several recipes, making use of the variety of foods offered through Good Eats. “Expansion of Pete’s Greens and Good Eats will benefit not only the producers but also our customers who are looking for a dependable source and variety of locally grown, organic foods, said Johnson.”

"Vermont takes great pride in its roots of an agriculturally-based economy, and USDA Rural Development is excited about the opportunity to link our financial resources and technical assistance directly to Vermonters who work the land,” said LaClair. “While we know the 'Vermont brand' attracts buyers from across the world to our quality products, we also know that every producer needs basic ingredients - business and marketing plans, capital, new market opportunities - to be successful. If Rural Development funds can increase a producer's customer base, resulting in greater profits to the producer, this program will have achieved its goal."

USDA Rural Development’s mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life in Rural America. This is done by providing financial and technical assistance to foster growth and new opportunities for business development, home ownership, and critical community and technology infrastructure. To learn more about USDA Rural Development programs visit the web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/vt.