Lamp value added producer grant – mandatory

This federal Project Grant award of $250,000 was provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Business Cooperative Services under the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (CFDA 10.175). The funding will support a two-year project by Tapenade, Inc., a for-profit Subchapter S Corporation in the agricultural sector, to develop and expand local and regional food systems in Washington state. The grant activities will focus on increasing access to and availability of locally produced agricultural products, encouraging the development of value-added products, facilitating regional food chain coordination, and promoting new business opportunities to reduce on-farm food waste. Key deliverables include supporting farmers markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture programs, agritourism, online sales platforms, food processing and distribution, marketing strategies, business planning, and food safety improvements.