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"The following news items are being sent to DACF subscribers as a courtesy."
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*Maine Produce Safety Improvement Grants [ [link removed] ]*
**Deadline to Apply is December 20**
Maine Produce Safety Improvement Grants (MPSIG) help specialty crop growers to:
* Implement on-farm food safety practices;
* Transition to compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR);
* Meet market demands for on-farm food safety.
*Eligibility:*
Proposed projects are restricted to improving the food safety of specialty crops. We will be awarding grants up to $10,000 to 15 farms. Prior awardees are not eligible.
*Apply now* [ [link removed] ]?and contact Anna Mueller, Farmer Professional Development Specialist with?Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association,
[email protected],? (207) 568-6017.
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*USDA Awards?five Maine agricultural businesses more than $1M in grant funds [ [link removed] ]*
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Maine State Director Rhiannon Hampson announced today that USDA is awarding five Maine agricultural businesses more than $1M in grant funds. The Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) will help the businesses develop and promote their products, making more local agricultural goods available to Maine residents and wider markets. Cured meats, prepared fruits and vegetables, soaps, herbal health products, and a blueberry confection are among the products to be developed.
* Balfour Farm?($249,917) will use its working capital grant funds to?expand the processing, marketing, and sales of its frozen fresh sausages and cured meats, creating one new job. The organic dairy farm and creamery is in Pittsfield, and its products are available at farmers? markets and retail sites.
* Fields Fields Blueberries?($10,000) secured?planning grant funds to assess the feasibility of expanding the market for its blueberry crisp (currently available from the ?Crisp Cart? at special events). The business will explore options for co-manufacturing and other aspects of increasing production. Its current line includes wild blueberry leaf teas, chips, powders, and tincture in addition to the dessert. The family-run organic wild blueberry farm is in Dresden.
* Herbal Revolution Farm & Apothecary?($250,000)?will use its working capital grant funds to expand the production, marketing, and sales of herbal tinctures, tonics, teas, scrubs, and elixirs. The project will increase wholesale and retail sales and allow the business, located in Union, to hire up to four additional staff.
* Ledgeway Farm?($249,975)?will use its working capital grant funds to expand processing, marketing, and sales of its diverse array of goat milk soap bar products. This project will allow the Pittston farm to grow its customer base and create two new jobs.
* William H. Jordan Farm?($250,000) will use its working capital grant funds to expand processing, marketing, and sales of its shelf-stable products and frozen vegetables. This project will attract more customers to the farm store and expand its line of frozen and shelf-stable products offered through retail and wholesale channels. The fifth-generation Cape Elizabeth farm expects to add two jobs because of the project.
Read more [ [link removed] ] and contact Ivana Hernandez Clukey, Loan Specialist, Business & Cooperative Services (
[email protected] 207-990-9127).
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*"Stay updated about ongoing events, workshops and educational opportunities happening all year:"*
* Learn more about grant programs and resources when you come to the 2024 Maine Ag Trades Show happening January 9, 10, 11, at the Augusta Civic Center. [ [link removed] ] Free admission to the public, doors open at 9 a.m. daily.
* The University of Maine - UMaine Extension Workshops, Classes, and Events - Products [ [link removed] ]
* Credit Calendar: Board of Pesticides: Plant Health and Pesticides: Maine DACF [ [link removed] ]
* Events (getrealmaine.com) [ [link removed] ]
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