Value Added Produce Grants $14 Million Available

[Jim Hall]

The USDA announced $14 million is available for their Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG). "The primary objective of the VAPG program is to help agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to the processing and/or marketing of bio-based value-added products. Generating new products, creating and expanding marketing opportunities, and increasing producer income are the end goals of this program." Go to http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_VAPG.html for more.
I've included a link to my blog on Ken Love, a Hawaii University Professor's workshop on how he creates value added products on the Island of Hawaii and his office in Japan.
Jackfruit anything and even banana and guava ketchup, very common in many places. These three short videos will get just about anyone thinking about creating their own niche branded product and how to sell it as a value added product that makes the difference for the farmer, producer or retailer.

Watch Ken`s workshop on value added products and think aquaponics and your farm.

http://magicmauifarms.blogspot.com/2011/08/ken-love-of-hawaii-tropi...

[Carey Ma]

I so totally agree. Value adding is the only way left for most small, diversified farmers to make more than two pennies. Thank you for bringing this to lite.