SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE NEARLY $50,000 VALUE-ADDED PRODUCER GRANT FOR 5 SPOKE CREAMERY IN ORANGE COUNTY
Funds Will Promote Growth for Small, Independent Producer, Boost Marketing Capabilities, Raise Brand Awareness and Consumer Knowledge
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $49,893 in funding for 5 Spoke Creamery in Orange County. The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) ValueAdded Producer Grant (VAPG) program and will be used to revamp their marketing strategy to raise brand awareness and increase sales. Senator Gillibrand wrote a letter to USDA Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack, in support of the application.
"A healthy dairy industry is crucial to New York's economy, and this funding is exciting news for 5 Spoke Creamery and Orange County," said Senator Schumer. "By providing funding to help market 5 Spoke Creamery's premium cheeses, this grant gives one of our prized Orange County dairy farms the opportunity to expand business and bring more quality products to consumers. This is good news for the county's dairy industry and good news for the area economy as a whole."
"We need our farmers to thrive if we're going to have a strong and growing economy in New York," said Senator Gillibrand, first New York Senator to serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee in nearly 40 years. "This is a great investment for the 5 Spoke Creamery and will help ensure they get the needed resources to bring their products to market and continue to drive economic growth in their region and across the state."
"5 Spoke Creamery is thrilled to be receiving an award from the ValueAdded Producer Grant program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture," said Alan Glustoff, Owner and Cheesemaker, 5 Spoke Creamery. "5 Spoke Creamery is a dairy farm making raw milk cheeses using rotational grazing practices. We bought this long dormant farm 2 ½ years ago, renovated the barn and built a cheesemaking room and excavated to build an underground, European style cave below. This crucial funding will be used to develop new types of cheese. We are thankful to Senator Gillibrand and Senator Schumer for all of their efforts and support."
The VAPG program is designed to help boost farms' income and productivity by increasing access to capital, providing technical assistance and developing new marketing strategies for independent producers to increase exposure and broaden their customer base.
Full text of Senator Gillibrand's letter to Secretary Vilsack is attached.
