Snipes farm and education center requests funds to produce organic valueadded products

Snipes farm is usdapco certified organic and runs a successful onfarm market and community supported agriculture CSA membership program. The center has organic produce contracts with senior centers hospitals and social service agencies to address hunger relief and food insecurity in the region. Snipes has experienced increased demand for its organic produce over the past 5 years and needs to add organic valueadded products to their offerings. Products include tomato hot sauces applesauce berry jams pickled vegetables teas herbs herbal products and dehydrated products. Improved equipment will initiate the 49 production of valueadded organic products for its customers. In the past 5 years the centers overall organic produce sales increased 20. At their onfarm market snipes sells valueadded products bought in from other local farms and producers honey syrup apple butters herbal products but none are certified organic. As one of the few certified organic farms in the area the center is well positioned to meet customer demand for organic valueadded products except for the for lack of efficient production equipment. The centers overall organic vegetable sales have increased 155 since 2015 due to contracts to grow and deliver food.