department of agriculture


*For Immediate Release*




*Media Contact: *Nikki Warner

651-238-7909

[email protected]




July 22, 2025

Previous Announcements [ [link removed] ]





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MDA Awards $1.75 Million to Strengthen Local Food and Farm Businesses

Funding will expand capacity and boost sales of Minnesota agricultural products

*St. Paul, MN:* The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has awarded $1,755,623 in grant funding to 42 Minnesota businesses through its Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Value-Added Grant [ [link removed] ] and Meat, Poultry, Egg, and Milk Processing (MPEM) Grant [ [link removed] ]. Both programs provide funding for Minnesota-based businesses to invest in equipment and physical improvement projects that support expanding production capacity, market diversification, and market access for agricultural products.

These grants are awarded through a competitive review process and range from $1,000 to $150,000. Grantees must provide a cash match of 50% for the first $50,000 of eligible project costs, and 75% for any additional costs, up to a maximum of $150,000. This cost-share model helps leverage private investment alongside state support. See the tables below for descriptions of funded projects.

Sixteen businesses across the state were awarded a total of $714,010 through the Value-Added Grant program. This funding supports a diverse group of businesses including produce processors, hemp product makers, food hubs, and value-added grain, herb, and beverage producers.

An additional 26 businesses received a total of $1,041,613 through the MPEM Grant track, which is dedicated to supporting meat, poultry, egg, and dairy processors. These businesses are making upgrades such as expanding cold storage, installing commercial-scale equipment, and launching new on-farm creameries to improve processing capacity and increase food safety.

“State support, when paired with the drive and investment of Minnesota’s farmers and food businesses, can lead to big results,” said MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen. “We’re proud to back entrepreneurs who are expanding their processing capacity, creating economic opportunity, and helping more Minnesotans access more locally produced food, fuel, and fiber.”

These awards are for fiscal year 2025, which ended on June 30. Applications for fiscal year 2026 Value-Added and MPEM grants are currently open and will be accepted through the MDA’s online application system until *4 p.m. on Thursday, August 7, 2025*. For more information and to apply, visit the AGRI Value-Added Grant [ [link removed] ] and Meat, Poultry, Egg, and Milk Processing Grant [ [link removed] ] webpages.

 

2025 AGRI Value-Added Grant Awards

*Business Name*



*Project summary*



*City*



*County*



Al-Corn Clean Fuel, LLC



Purchase of distiller's grain drying equipment, enabling ethanol plant to expand production of ethanol, distillers grains, and corn oil sourced from MN grains.



Claremont



Dodge



Ancient Wheat Craft



Purchase of stone mill, grain cleaning equipment, and packaging equipment to grind MN-grown wheat into artisan flour.



Elbow Lake



Grant



Crested River



Electrical install and purchase of a pasteurizer and clean-in-place system for greater hemp processing capacity and food safety.



Morgan



Redwood



Hoyo



Purchase of combination oven, vegetable peeler, vertical cutter machine, kettle mixer, metal detector, and additional equipment for increasing production capacity as a food manufacturer.



Minneapolis



Hennepin



In-Cider Orchard



Purchase of freezer equipment including insulated walls, ceiling, doors, compressor, and condenser for food-safe storage of apple juice.



Mora



Kanabec



Loon Liquors



Purchase of stone mill, grain cleaner, additional milling equipment, and distillery bottling equipment for increasing distillery grain processing.



Northfield



Rice



Nature's Holistic Farm, LLC



Purchase of commercial-grade freeze dryer and freezer for increasing processing capacity of MN-grown herbs, fruits, and vegetables.



Saint Paul



Ramsey



Nystrom Orchard



Purchase of apple washer-grinder, transfer pump, power washer, pasteurizer, and bag filler for increasing cider processing efficiency and food safety.



Worthington



Nobles



PlantB, LLC



Purchase of dry-blender and filler to increase processing capacity of plant protein product manufacturer.



Minneapolis



Hennepin



Rolling Forks Vineyards



Purchase of wine-bottling line.



Glenwood



Pope



Sandhill Mill



Converting existing mill building into grain storage area for improved food safety.



Canby



Yellow Medicine



Spirit Lake Native Farms



Purchase of firewood processor used for making wood-fired maple syrup and traditional parching of wild rice.



Sawyer



Carlton



Sunrich Products, LLC



Purchase of pasteurization equipment for increased processing capacity of MN-grown sunflower kernels.



Crookston



Polk



The Good Acre



Remodel of commercial kitchen to serve as dedicated space for processing, assembly, and packing of consumer-packaged goods and produce subscription boxes.



Falcon Heights



Ramsey



X2 Pastries



Purchase of HVAC system, hood, double stack convection oven, singe rack roll-in oven, walk-in fridge, and a walk-in freezer for brick-and-mortar bakery.



Saint Paul



Ramsey



Zumbro Falls Golf Club



Purchase of bottler, water heater, labeling machine, and air compressor for local winery.



Zumbro Falls



Wabasha



 

2025 AGRI Meat, Poultry, Egg, and Milk Processing Grant Awards

*Business Name*



*Project summary*



*City*



*County*



Amo Creamery



Plumbing, ventilation, and epoxy flooring work, and refrigerated product transport for start-up on farm creamery.



Heron Lake



Jackson



Autumnwood Farm, LLC



Purchase of filling/capping equipment for milk bottles and refrigerated transport vehicle.



Forest Lake



Washington



B and E Meats



Purchase of utensil washer for meat processing facility.



Crookston



Polk



Bear Country Meats



Purchase of refrigeration equipment for on-farm meat processing.



Kasson



Dodge



B&K Schrupp's Meat & Seafood, LLC



Purchase of heat-sealing packaging machine for meat processing facility.



Paynesville



Stearns



Callahan Meats Inc.



Purchase of processing equipment, packaging equipment, and slaughter facility improvements for meat processing facility, including a slicer, mixer/grinders, labeler, coolers, etc. 



Barnesville



Clay



Chad Boisjolie



Hot water installation and purchase of a higher-volume scalder for mobile poultry processing trailer.



Le Sueur



Le Sueur



Compass Rose Creamery



Build-out of facility for start-up creamery, including purchase of cheese processing equipment.



Sleepy Eye



Brown



Concept Processing



Purchase of filler and bagger for more efficient and food-safe processing of fluid milk.



Melrose



Stearns



Conger Meat Market



Purchase of meat processing equipment for increasing processing capacity, including a meat grinder, walk-in cooler and freezer, bandsaw, etc.



Conger



Freeborn



Deutz Brothers, LLC



Cold storage expansion for meat products and egg washing.



Marshall



Lyon



Egan's Market



Replacing meat processing facility flooring for increased food safety. 



Adrian



Nobles



Farmers Union Industries



Purchase of new condenser to increase rendering capacity for area livestock and poultry producers' raw material.



Redwood Falls



Redwood



French Lake Butcher Shop



Purchase of a bowl chopper to increase sausage processing capacity.



South Haven



Wright



Gardner Family Farm



Purchase of an egg washer to increase processing capacity for pasture-raised eggs.



Spring Grove



Houston



Highwater Creek Meat Market, LLC



Purchase of a bandsaw, curing pump, patty machine, splitting saw, meat tenderizer, and meat slicer to increase processing capacity and increase food safety.



Jeffers



Cottonwood



Ketter's Meats & Locker Plant



Purchase of meat grinder and ground beef bagger for increased meat processing capacity.



Frazee



Becker



Lakes Community Cooperative



Purchase of coolers and processing equipment for increased meat processing capacity.



Perham



Otter Tail



Morgans Meat Market



Purchase of mixer/mincer and new flooring for increasing meat processing capacity and food safety.



Waseca



Waseca



Orty's Custom Meats



Purchase of automatic dishwasher for meat processing facility.



Deer River



Itasca



Schroeder Meats



Renovation of facility room to separate ready-to-eat product packaging from raw product, and purchase of a bacon slicer.



New Germany



Carver



South Forty Meat Market



Purchase of a sausage stuffer and linker to increase processing capacity.



Lucan



Redwood



Swanson Meats Inc.



Purchase of meat tenderizer and intervention applicator to increase processing capacity and food safety.



Minneapolis



Hennepin



Ten Finn’s Creamery



Purchase of on-farm milk pasteurizer and associated parts/pumps to increase milk processing capacity. 



Menahga



Wadena



TFC Poultry, LLC



Purchase of grinding equipment for increased processing capacity of ground turkey.



Ashby



Grant



White Bear Butchery Inc.



Renovating meat processing facility ceiling with antimicrobial, washable tiles to increase food safety.



White Bear Lake



Ramsey



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