ABSTRACT11-10-2021WE are a small, recent (2012) start-up family-run business working to expand our processing plant byadding on approximately 2,500 square feet

Van Galder Family Farms was awarded a $200,000 Project Grant from the US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service under the Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grants – Supplemental Funding program (CFDA 10.180).

The grant will support the expansion of Van Galder Family Farms' meat processing plant by approximately 2,500 square feet and the upgrade of equipment to increase production capacity, efficiency, and energy efficiency. New equipment to be purchased includes a stuffing machine, refrigeration components for coolers and freezers, an on-demand water heater, electric hoists, a mixer/grinder, a larger bowl cutter, scales, and a backup generator. These improvements will allow the facility to produce meat products in a more energy efficient manner and increase production capacity to expand its existing market, increase food safety standards, and increase slaughter/processing for small farms and underserved producers and communities. The grant period runs from September 30, 2021 through September 29, 2024.

We are operating in an area in high demand for not only custom, but federally inspected processing plants. This need, in our rural, under-served region, has been documentedby agriculture specialists. We will be upgrading equipment to increase capacity, efficiency and working to bemore energy efficient. New equipment we will be purchasing will be a stuffing machine for making valueadded products, refrigeration components for walk-in cooler, walk-in freezer, and cutting room, on-demandwater heater, electric chain hoists, new mixer/grinder, new and larger bowl cutter, new scales for overheadtrack and a back-up generator to ensure food safety in times of power grid failures. All the new equipmentwill allow US to produce meat products in a more energy efficient way; and will increase meat productioncapacity allowing US to expand ourexisting market, increase our food safety standards, obtain a largercommercial presence, and increase slaughter/processing needs for small farms, new farms, sociallydisadvantaged producers, veteran producers, and under-served communities. We will be employing severalfull-time employees and several part-time employees. We have demonstrated needs that will allow US toexpand our market, within new york state and our contiguous states. We have and continue to invest ourown capital into this business by finishing site work for future building and purchasing equipment to coverthe costs above and beyond the grant ceiling.