BI grants - rcdg discretionary value-added agricultural prod MKT dvlp

On September 4, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Business Cooperative Services awarded a $250,000 Project Grant to Harvest For The Hungry, Inc. under the Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) program (CFDA 10.352). The grant, with a completion date of September 4, 2027, supports the organization's efforts to assist agricultural producers in developing value-added processing and marketing activities. As a minority-owned and Asian-Pacific American-owned nonprofit based in Houston, Texas, Harvest For The Hungry leverages this funding to provide technical assistance and developmental support to beginning farmers, socially disadvantaged farmers, veteran farmers, and other underserved agricultural communities across rural Texas.

Under this award, the organization develops and expands value-added agricultural product opportunities across multiple commodity sectors including dairy, livestock, crops, fruits, vegetables, and specialty agriculture. The VAPG program funds planning and working capital activities—such as feasibility studies, business plans, and operational expenses—designed to help producers validate the economic viability of value-added ventures and support day-to-day operations. This $250,000 award represents a portion of Harvest For The Hungry's broader federal grant portfolio, which totals approximately $1.74 million in USDA funding dedicated to advancing agricultural development and economic opportunity in underrepresented farming communities.