Value- added agricultural product market development grants

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Business Cooperative Services awarded Yaupon Holly Tea, LLC (doing business as Catspring Yaupon) a $250,000 Value-Added Producer Grant (CFDA 10.352) on November 8, 2023. This grant supports the processing, marketing, and increasing consumer awareness of Catspring Yaupon's value-added agricultural products derived from the yaupon holly, the only caffeinated plant native to North America. Catspring Yaupon, a minority-owned, woman-owned small business, will use the grant funds to expand its production and promotion of innovative yaupon tea products, offering a domestic alternative to imported teas. This award aligns with the Value-Added Producer Grants program's objectives to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities, and increase producer income for agricultural businesses across the United States.