(Indianapolis, IN) – Two local projects are among 17 around the state to be awarded a total of $6,714,042 to support food chain resilience.
Beneker Family Farms in Franklin County and HenABen Farm in Ripley County received funds from the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service in partnership with the Indiana State Department of Agriculture.
Officials say the grants will build resilience across the middle of the supply chain while strengthening local and regional food systems.
“Indiana farmers work hard to produce millions of pounds of fruits, vegetables and other pantry staples each year that are eventually shipped across state lines or do not even make it to market,” Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development said. “This grant funding will ensure more Hoosiers are fed by Hoosiers and that these organizations can better serve their communities.”
Beneker Family Farms will use grant funds to assist in the creation of the Southeastern Indiana Food Hub.
The food hub’s primary focus is to create opportunities for all regional farmers to improve food supply resilience by developing and expanding their middle of the supply chain capacity.
HenABen Farm is looking to expand its processing of dehydrated mushrooms and vegetables.
The primary goal of this project is to acquire food processing and dehydrating equipment to create and distribute shelf-stable, value-added mushroom and vegetable products, promoting healthy alternatives for consumers and expanding economic opportunities for producers.
This initiative will open new market outlets for local vegetable producers, such as grocery and health food stores, farmers’ markets, and with a local health practitioner.
“These 17organizations already do so much for their communities, and we are grateful that alongside USDA we could support them even further,” said Don Lamb, Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director. “This funding will ensure food grown in local communities stays in local communities and this will allow our Hoosier farmers to increase their capacity and continue to build their businesses.”
The awarded funding is part of the $420 million available through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Grant program to build capacity within the middle of the supply chain and support local and regional producers.
It is funded by USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).
Through this program, AMS has entered into cooperative agreements with state agencies, commissions, or departments responsible for agriculture, commercial food processing, seafood, or food system and distribution activities or commerce activities in states or U.S. territories.
For more information, visit the AMS Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure webpage https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/rfsi/rfsi-rfa-status.
