Lamp value added producer grant – mandatory

The Gullah Farmers Cooperative Association received a $249,761 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Business Cooperative Services on August 21, 2025, under the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (FMLFPP, CFDA 10.175). The award, with an ultimate completion date of August 21, 2027, supports the development and expansion of local and regional food systems serving socially disadvantaged agricultural producers in South Carolina. The cooperative will leverage this funding to enhance its value-added product development capabilities and strengthen wholesale market access for limited-resource Gullah farmers through its 10,000 square foot packing and processing facility located on St. Helena Island.

The grant aligns with the FMLFPP's core objectives of developing and coordinating direct producer-to-consumer and intermediary-based indirect marketing channels for locally and regionally produced agricultural products. As a minority-owned, non-profit agricultural cooperative, the awardee will utilize the two-year funding period to expand local food systems infrastructure and marketing channels, building on its existing track record of federal support and its demonstrated mission to enhance rural economic development and create sustainable market opportunities for small-scale farmers in the region.