Finger Lakes, N.Y.
U.S. Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced today the U.S. Department of Agriculture has selected 298 recipients in 44 states and Puerto Rico to receive federal grants to help in business development and marketing.
Funding is made available through USDA Rural Development assistance under the Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program.
The list of recipients, to be named Friday, include independent producers, farmer and rancher cooperatives and groups of agricultural producers.
The grants act as a catalyst for business development and entrepreneurship by providing access to capital and technical assistance.