Lamp value added producer grant – mandatory

Tom Erickson, doing business as Hornitos Beef, received a $249,920 Value Added Producer Grant through the Rural Business Cooperative Services (an alternate name for USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service) under the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (FMLFPP, CFDA 10.175). The award, obligated on September 2, 2025, supports a project extending through September 2, 2027, focused on developing value-added beef products and expanding direct producer-to-consumer marketing channels. Under this component of the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP), the awardee will leverage federal funding to enhance local and regional food system infrastructure, likely including product development, processing capabilities, marketing strategies, and distribution methods to increase consumer access to locally and regionally produced beef products in California.

The FMLFPP grant program, administered in partnership between the Agricultural Marketing Service and Rural Business Cooperative Services, supports eligible agricultural businesses and cooperatives in building sustainable local food enterprises. This two-year project aligns with the program's emphasis on value-added production and market development initiatives, requiring the awardee to contribute matching funds equivalent to 25 percent of the total project costs as a condition of the award.