**Indiana**: The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture have allocated over $6.7 million to support 17 farms and organisations, enhancing resilience in local food supply chains through infrastructure funding, job creation, and improved distribution capabilities.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) have collectively allocated over $6.7 million in grants to 17 farms and organisations throughout Indiana under the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program. This funding initiative aims to enhance resilience within the food supply chain while bolstering local and regional food systems.
ISDA Director Don Lamb noted, “These seventeen organizations already do so much for their communities, and we are grateful that alongside USDA we could support them even further. 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.”
Among the projects receiving financial support are various infrastructure improvements that include the construction of co-packing facilities, the establishment of food hubs, and the acquisition of refrigerated delivery vehicles.
Details of the funded projects are as follows:
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Shop Kid LLC (Marion County) will construct a new co-packing facility dedicated to processing local fruits, grains, and vegetables into value-added products, creating several dozen jobs in the process.
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Summer Solstice Farms (Jefferson County) plans to build a processing, aggregation, and storage facility aimed at helping small farmers access institutional and wholesale markets.
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Produce Patch, LLC (Daviess County) will expand its operations with a new facility that will increase its capacity to service multiple distribution channels while supplying local partners such as Daviess County Hospital.
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J.L. Hawkins Farm (Wabash County) will construct an on-farm building to improve aggregation, storage, and distribution facilities, along with upgrading existing post-harvest processing areas.
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Beneker Family Farms (Franklin County) is set to assist in creating the Southeastern Indiana Food Hub to develop middle-supply-chain capacity for regional farmers.
Additional projects include:
– Crystal Lake LLC (Kosciusko County) will produce extended shelf-life egg products through new equipment installation.
– Mills Family Farms (Cass County) is building a grain milling facility to produce specialty-milled products.
– Four Leaf Honey Farm (Wayne County) will enhance marketing for local honey by establishing a storage and bottling facility.
– Soul Food Project (Marion County) intends to improve food distribution capacities by acquiring cold storage and a refrigerated van for easier transport of produce.
Others receiving funding include Clay Bottom Farm (Elkhart County), which plans to purchase a delivery vehicle to enhance produce distribution, and Unvarnished Farm (Jefferson County), which aims to secure a mobile refrigerated trailer to increase produce delivery capability across several communities.
Further projects involve the acquisition of refrigeration and storage improvements by organisations like Davis Family Farms (Washington County), Families Anchored in Total Harmony Inc. (Lake County), and HenABen Farm (Ripley County), all aiming to enhance the quality and distribution of local agricultural products.
Finally, Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana (Marion County) will be expanding its fleet with a refrigerated tractor trailer, enhancing its capacity to source and distribute fresh produce across a 21-county service area, while Orange County Cooperative Development Corp. will improve its processing and distribution infrastructure to ensure year-round accessibility of local fruits and vegetables.
This robust financial support, totalling $6,714,042, aims to fortify Indiana’s local food systems and enhance the sustainability and strength of its agricultural community.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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