U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Florida State Director Lakeisha Hood recently announced that USDA is making investments that will expand markets for agricultural producers and strengthen American food and agriculture supply chains in Florida.
“Under the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, USDA is partnering with entrepreneurs in rural areas to build brighter futures, connect business owners to new markets and create good jobs for generations to come,” said Hood.
This announcement was made as part of the inaugural meeting of the new White House Council on Supply Chain Resilience which is part of President Biden’s agenda to bring down costs for American families and increase investment in America’s supply chains critical to economic and national security. This funding builds on prior investments made by USDA under President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to increase competition, enhance independent meat and poultry and other diversified food processing capacity, strengthen local and regional food systems and expand domestic, innovative fertilizer production.
In Florida:
- FlexCold received $8,183,000 to purchase mobile racking equipment for a cold storage facility. This will allow waitlist customers to house meat, packaged goods, poultry, frozen produce, and seafood products.
- Lactalogics received $40,000,000 to develop a commercial facility to produce donor-based non-perishable breast milk in Lucie. The project includes commercial real estate purchases, site improvements, and equipment installation.
- Located in Jefferson County, Magnolia Bee Farm will use $5,250 to assist agricultural producers in adding value to their bee operation. The company will produce regular honey, creamed honey, and infused honey.
- To expand the quality-certified organic products that are offered to its customers, Orchard Pond Organics will use $250,000 to produce high-quality foods using sustainable practices. Project funds will be used for working capital to add value to its raw product of fruit and market expansion of the Apple Carrot Fruit Rolls.
- Gulf American Shrimp will use $250,000 to assist in adding value to their operation. The products, which are processed locally, are sustainable, farm-raised shrimp and packaged shrimp.
USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
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