BI grants - rcdg mandatory value added product marketing dvlp

Big Wheel Farm received $160,080 in federal funding through the Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) program (CFDA 10.352), administered by the Rural Business Cooperative Services under the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The award, announced on August 27, 2025, supports the development of mandatory value-added product marketing initiatives over a two-year project period concluding August 27, 2027. The funding enables Big Wheel Farm to advance processing and marketing activities that transform raw agricultural commodities into higher-value products, thereby creating expanded market opportunities and increasing producer income.

Under the VAPG program parameters, the grant funds day-to-day operational expenses and market development activities directly associated with the processing and marketing of value-added agricultural products. The award excludes support for agricultural production, construction, real property acquisition, or fixed equipment and vehicle purchases, ensuring resources are directed toward sustainable market development and operational sustainability. Big Wheel Farm's project aligns with the program's competitive funding mechanism, which annually distributes $25-30 million across eligible agricultural producers, producer groups, and cooperatives nationwide.