USDA Rural Development Investing in Choice Orchards

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Development office is investing $2.7 million in rural Wisconsin to help 14 agricultural producers and small businesses develop new products and expand their business lines.

Among them is Choice in Sturgeon Bay, which will receive a $250,000 grant to help with the brand development and packaging of pitted, frozen cherries. The project should increase sales to current customers and add distributors, grocers and other businesses to its client list.

This funding is provided through USDA Rural Development’s Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program, which may be used for producing or marketing a value-added product. Independent agricultural producers, farmer or rancher cooperatives, and producer-controlled entities are eligible.