Two Northwest Michigan farms are getting a bit of help from grants issued by the United States Department of Agriculture.
Light of Day Organics, a Traverse City-based organic farm, and
Royal Farms, located in Ellsworth, were awarded funds from the Value-Added Producer Grant program run by the USDA. The idea behind the program is to help farmers and growers develop marketing strategies for agricultural commodities.
"Michigan agriculture is strong and expanding five times faster than the general economy," says U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, who announced the grant recipients. "From food processing and manufacturing to farming and marketing, Michigan's agriculture industry is extremely wide ranging. Our agriculture sector brings in more than $71 billion a year and supports one out of every four jobs in the state. We are poised to continue building on that success and creating jobs here in Michigan, and tying our farms to tourism is a recipe for success."
Light of Day Organics will receive $293,842, which will be used to develop a marketing campaign to promote the farm as a premier health and wellness destination in Northwest Michigan. The farm's products are grown organically and hand harvested.
Royal Farms is known for its cherries, apples and pears. The farm will receive $45,094 to help fund marketing activities promoting their new fruit wines and hard cider products.
Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Debbie Stabenow, U.S. Congress
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