For the Meat and Produce ADG program, feedback from both produce and meat industry stakeholders—including representatives from producer associations, service providers, research institutions, and business viability programs—informed the Agency in the development of the grant program.
Eligible projects were required to address one of three funding priorities: 1) Climate Resiliency, 2) Infrastructure, Efficiency & Capacity, and 3) Worker and Food Safety & Product Quality. Selected projects support operations across a diversity of the two eligible industries: Produce production (mushroom, fruit and vegetable), produce processing, poultry production, livestock production (beef and sheep), poultry processing, and livestock processing (sheep, pork, beef, goat). Projects will run through mid-2026.
A list of final awards and project summaries is below:
- 5th Quarter (Washington) – $158,876 for construction of a second processing room, increasing capacity for processing and co-packing for Vermont farms.
- Adam’s Berry Farm (Chittenden) – $245,123 for construction of an upgraded packing and processing facility to support food safe practices and expanded production and value-added processing.
- Blue House Mushroom (Chittenden) – $36,544 for completion of a production facility that will support doubling of production volumes to meet current market demand and expand into new markets.
- Brault’s Market (Orleans) – $52,364 for infrastructure upgrades to three coolers, supporting food safe practices and expanding processing capacity.
- Clearfield Farm (Addison) – $93,415 for purchase of specialized root harvesting equipment to increase operational efficiency, soil conservation and expanded crop production.
- Crossroad Farm (Orange) – $216,650 for construction of a new washing, packing and storage facility to meet efficiency, food safety and worker protection needs for current production volumes.
- Dubs Farms (Franklin) – $44,032 for construction and furnishing of an on-farm processing facility that will allow poultry slaughter under Vermont State inspection for the grantee and other Vermont farms.
- Dutton Berry Farm (Windham) – $269,500 for critical upgrades to their cider production facility, to increase food safe infrastructure and practices and support expanded production.
- Grass Cattle Company (Chittenden) - $31,249 for construction of a fulfilment building and purchase of mobile infrastructure to support expanded direct-to-consumer market access.
- Honey Field Farm (Windsor) – $118,650 for critical upgrades to their washing, packing and storage facilities to increase food safe infrastructure, to improve operational efficiency and to support season extension to meet current market demand.
- Maplemont (Caledonia) – $43,510 for critical infrastructure upgrades to their barn to increase animal and human safety and wellbeing, operational efficiency and support expansion of their flock.
- Mighty Food Farm (Bennington) – $75,213 for climate-resilient improvements to their propagation and production greenhouses to support greater capacity to regulate greenhouse conditions and reduce crop loss in a changing climate.
- Roma’s Butchery (Windsor) - $247,519 for infrastructural and equipment upgrades to support coming under Vermont State inspection, improve worker safety and wellbeing, and expand capacity for processing.
VAAFM received a wide array of eligible applications from businesses in all 14 of Vermont’s counties. Applicant businesses ranged from start-up stage producers to established commercial processors, with businesses of all sizes submitting applications.
Agricultural businesses interested in future funding opportunities are encouraged to stay engaged through the Agricultural Development Division’s webpage at www.agriculture.vermont.gov/development .
Source : vermont.gov