Schumer Announces Over $206,000 Coming To Aricultural Businesses In The Finger Lakes Region

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that federal dollars have been awarded to two organizations in Central New York by the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Development ValueAdded Agriculture Product Market Development Grant Program. Lagoner Farms, in Wayne County, has received a grant award of $24,494 to purchase inventory and supplies for the sale of jams and sauces derived from home grown produce. RT Solutions, LLC, in Livingston County, has received a grant award of $181,895 to establish a marketing plan.

"This is great news for the Finger Lakes region," Schumer said. "Many of our farms, wineries, and other agricultural businesses produce high quality products yet do not have the resources needed to market them to the public. This funding will provide our agricultural businesses with tools that will allow them to expand, profit, and provide more consumers with their quality products.

Lagoner Farms will use federal dollars to purchase inventory and supplies for the production and sale of jams and sauces derived from home grown produce. RT Solutions, LLC will use federal dollars to develop a marketing plan for the sale of vermicomposed dairy solids.

The USDA Rural Development ValueAdded Agriculture Product Market Development Grant program provides federal funds to be used for planning activities and for working capital for marketing valueadded agricultural products and for farmbased renewable energy. Funds are made available to agricultural commodity producers who refine their products in order to increase the value of these products to users and customers. Eligible applicants are independent producers, farmer and rancher cooperatives, agricultural producer groups, and majoritycontrolled producerbased business ventures.