Lamp value added producer grant – mandatory

On September 3, 2025, the Rural Business Cooperative Services awarded Sunsweet Growers Inc. a $250,000 Project Grant under the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (FMLFPP, CFDA 10.175). This two-year award, with completion scheduled for September 3, 2027, supports the development, coordination, and expansion of local and regional food systems. As a small agricultural cooperative headquartered in Yuba City, California, Sunsweet Growers will utilize the funding to develop and market value-added dried fruit products, including prunes, apricots, dates, mangoes, cranberries, and blueberries, with objectives focused on generating new products, creating and expanding marketing opportunities, and increasing producer income through direct and indirect producer-to-consumer marketing channels.

The grant aligns with FMLFPP's dual-track approach, supporting value-added product development, marketing strategies, and regional food chain coordination initiatives. This award represents Sunsweet Growers' continued participation in the program, following previous value-added agricultural product market development grants of $250,000 each awarded in September 2022, September 2023, and September 2024. The funding will advance the cooperative's portfolio of value-added activities through bio-based product development and enhanced market promotion efforts for locally and regionally produced agricultural commodities.