List of Value Added Agricultural Product Market Development Grant Recipients
Arkansas -$97,500
Riceland Foods, Inc., Stuttgart, Arkansas - $97,500
Riceland Foods, Inc. is an 8,000 member producer-owned cooperative based in Stuttgart, Arkansas. Riceland will use the grant funds to conduct a marketing and feasibility analysis for a soybean germ separation and deoiling process.
California - $978,500
Blue Diamond Growers, Sacramento, California - $478,500
Grant funds will be used to help launch a new product line of produce/salad toppings to be sold in the produce section of supermarkets. Funds will be used for package design, market development, and marketing surveys.
Olive Growers Council of California, Visalia, California - $500,000
The Olive Growers Council of California is working with the California Olive Growers (CAG), Inc., a newly formed statewide processing-marketing cooperative, which recently purchased the Oberti Olive plant. Grant funds will be used as working capital for the operation of the plant.
Illinois - $100,000
ILLI-MEX Alliance, LLC, Morrisonville, Illinois - $40,000
ILLI-MEX Alliance, LLC is a joint venture by two central Illinois cooperatives and is wholly owned by 2,000 farmers. The Alliance will use grant funds to investigate the feasibility of establishing a fresh masa tortilla manufacturing business in Chicago.
Central Illinois Ag Coalition, Canton, Illinois - $60,000
The Central Illinois Ag Coalition is currently investigating the feasibility of constructing a grain ethanol facility to utilize corn produced in the Canton, Illinois area. Grant funds will be used to conduct the feasibility study and develop a business plan.
Indiana - $105,000
Premium Producer Association, Vincennes, Indiana - $105,000
The Premium Producer Association wants to determine the feasibility of a corn flour milling facility in Knox County Indiana. The $105,000 in grant funds will be used to hire a consultant to conduct the study and for miscellaneous expenses.
Iowa - $2,448,578
Midwest Grain Processors Cooperative, Hanlontown, Iowa - $500,000
Midwest Grain Processors Cooperative plans to build and operate a 45 million gallon (per year) denatured fuel grade ethanol plant. Grant funds will be used to establish a working capital account pay salaries, purchase office equipment and pay utilities.
Iowa Quality Beef Supply Network, LLC, Ames, Iowa - $500,000
The Iowa Beef Quality Supply Network, LLC wishes to acquire an ownership interest in either a new or existing beef processing plant. Grant funds will be used to conduct a feasibility study, develop final business plans and conduct an equity drive.
Iowa Premium Pork Company, Clive, Iowa - $500,000
Iowa Premium Pork will use the grant funds for equity development, project development, and overall administration.
BioMass Agri-Products, LLC, Harlan, Iowa - $470,000
BioMass Agri-Products, LLC is looking to expand processing opportunities of agricultural residues. They will use grant funds to conduct a feasibility study, update their business plan, develop a business operations plan, and establish a working capital account.
American Natural Soy Processors, LLC, Hartley, Iowa - $478,578
American Natural Soy Processors plans to process organically produced oilseeds through the extrusion and expelling method of processing. The group will use grant funds to establish a working capital account to pay wages, utilities, and other start-up costs.
Kansas - $511,000
Cooperative Agricultural Services, Inc., Grinnell, Kansas - $11,000
Cooperative Agricultural Services, Inc. wants to add a soybean processing plant to its currently operating feed mill. They will use the $11,000 in grant funds to complete a feasibility study concerning this venture.
Valley Vegetables Cooperative, Concordia, Kansas - $500,000
The Valley Vegetables Cooperative plan to process sweet corn into cut corn and frozen corn products. The grant funds will be used as working capital during the start-up period of operations.
Kentucky - $500,000
Hopkinsville Elevator Co., Inc., Hopkinsville, Kentucky - $500,000
The Hopkinsville Elevator Company, Inc. is nearing completion of the development of Commonwealth Agri-Energy, LLC that will operate a dry anhydrous ethanol manufacturing plant. The farmer owned cooperative will use grant funds to establish a working capital account to pay wages and purchase supplies.
Michigan - $500,000
Michigan Sugar Beet Growers, Inc., Saginaw, Michigan - $500,000
Michigan Sugar Beet Growers, Inc. is purchasing four processing facilities from the Michigan Sugar Company. Grant funds will be used to establish a working account to purchase sugar beets and to pay the wages of plant personnel.
Minnesota - $144,950
DENCO Producers' Association (DPA) Prairie Gold Nutrition Co. Morris, MN - $144,950
DENCO Producers' Association (DPA) Prairie Gold Nutrition Company plans to manufacture and supply a high quality nutritional feed supplement for livestock producers. They will use the grant funds to conduct a marketing study, develop a business plan, conduct legal work, and purchase office equipment.
Montana - $303,022
Montana Natural Beef, LLC, St. Ignatius, Montana - $303,022
Montana Natural Beef, LLC is looking to develop markets for specialty value-added natural beef products such as jerky, corned beef, and pastrami. They will use grant funds to establish a working capital account to pay salaries and benefits, to purchase office equipment, and to finance inventory.
New Mexico - $35,000
Sangre de Cristo Growers Coop., LLC, Costilla, New Mexico - $35,000
The Sangre de Cristo Growers Cooperative wants to build a flourmill to process the organic wheat produced by its members. Grant funds will be used to conduct feasibility, operational, and marketing studies.
North Dakota - $1,723,558
Golden Plains Frozen Foods, LLC, Leeds, North Dakota - $500,000
Golden Plains Frozen Foods recently purchased a facility that produces fresh frozen filled pasta such as ravioli. This group will use grant funds as working capital for the start of operations.
Dakota Lamb Growers Cooperative, Northwood, North Dakota - $144,000
The Dakota Lamb Growers Cooperative will expand the amount of natural lamb sold by marketing four new processed lamb products. They will use grant funds to pay salaries, marketing costs, and label and packaging design.
Dakota Halal Processing Company, Inc., Harvey, North Dakota - $487,708
The Dakota Halal Processing Company, Inc. is developing and test marketing of a variety of Halal products including Kubbah. Grant funds will be used mainly for packaging design, advertising and promotion, and operating expenses.
Dakota Beef Cooperative, Mandan, North Dakota - $91,850
Dakota Beef Cooperative, a closed agricultural cooperative, intends to buy an existing high quality beef packing, processing, and marketing company. Grant funds will used to conduct a membership/equity drive.
United Spring Wheat Processors Cooperative, Fargo, North Dakota - $500,000
United Spring Wheat Processors d/b/a/ Spring Wheat Bakers plans to expand its current baking operation into new products from other wheat classes produced by its members. Grant funds will be used for market development for these new products.
New York - $24,000
Klaas and Mary-Howell Martens, Penn Yan, New York - $24,000
Three New York organic grain farmers recently purchased a feed mill from Agway Corporation and plan to produce quality organic animal feed. Grant money will be used to pay initial operating expenses for the mill.
Oklahoma - $500,000
Value Added Products, Inc., Alva, Oklahoma - $500,000
Value Added Products, Inc. will produce frozen dough products from members' wheat. They use the grant funds to establish a working capital account to pay wages and salaries, material costs, evaluation costs, and marketing/promotional expenses.
Pennsylvania - $90,000
Best Milk Producers Cooperative, Williamsport, Pennsylvania - $90,000
Best Milk Producers Cooperative recently opened Pure Country Dairy, a retail dairy store and processing center. Grant funds will be used as working capital to purchase inventory and to pay for advertising and other operating expenses.
Oregon - $500,000
Tillamook County Creamery Association, Tillamook, Oregon - $500,000
Tillamook County Creamery Association through its subsidiary Columbia River Processing, Inc. is opening a new cheese plant in Boardman, Oregon. Grant funds will be used to help pay the start-up costs of the new plant including salaries and inventory costs.
South Dakota - $500,000
South Dakota Soybean Processors, Volga, South Dakota - $500,000
South Dakota Soybean Processors are looking at further refining soybean oil produced at its crushing facility. The group will use grant funds to conduct a feasibility analysis, an equity drive, and to establish a working capital account.
Texas - $500,000
Southwest Guar Cooperative Association, Brownfield, Texas - $500,000
The Southwest Guar Cooperation Association plans to process guar beans to produce gum. They will use $500,000 in grant funds to determine the feasibility of building a guar bean processing facility, prepare business and marketing plans, and establish a working capital account to finance initial operations.
Tennessee - $150,000
Southern Growers Incorporated, Mason, Tennessee - $150,000
Southern Growers plan to process sweet potatoes into a variety of retail products, particularly sweet potato pies. They will use the $150,000 in grants funds to conduct a feasibility study, develop business and marketing plans, and establish a working capital account.
Utah - $500,000
Rocky Mountain Sugar Growers Cooperative, Salt Lake City, Utah - $500,000
Rocky Mountain Sugar will use the $500,000 in grant funds to establish a working capital account. In addition, they will establish a finance department and purchase a computer system to handle finance matters and operations.
Wisconsin - $8,000
John and Crystal Hinrichs, Maiden Rock, Wisconsin - $8,000
John and Crystal Hinrichs, owners of a 250-cow dairy farm, are proposing to develop an on-farm micro dairy to process milk and sell direct to retail outlets. The grant will be used for working capital to fund wages and benefits, supplies, inventory, and utilities.
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