Lamp value added producer grant – mandatory

Summer's Estate, a minority-owned agricultural cooperative based in Branchville, South Carolina, received a $250,000 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Business Cooperative Services under the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (FMLFPP, CFDA 10.175). The award, obligated on August 28, 2025, with completion targeted for August 28, 2027, supports the development and expansion of local and regional food systems. Through this two-year initiative, Summer's Estate will implement value-added agricultural product development, enhance marketing strategies, and facilitate regional food chain coordination to increase access to locally produced agricultural goods and strengthen market opportunities for small and mid-sized agricultural producers in the region.

The FMLFPP, a component of the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP), is designed to support projects that develop direct producer-to-consumer marketing channels and local food business enterprises. Summer's Estate's award aligns with program priorities that fund eligible activities including agricultural processing, value-added product development, food distribution infrastructure improvements, and regional food system coordination. The grant demonstrates the organization's strategic focus on sustainable agricultural development and its capacity to execute federal funding requirements over the multi-year performance period.