Value- added agricultural product market development grants

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Business Cooperative Services awarded a $250,000 Value-Added Producer Grant (CFDA 10.352) to the Alaska Beauty Peony Cooperative on September 18, 2023. The grant funding will support the cooperative's efforts to develop and expand value-added activities related to the processing and marketing of bio-based, value-added agricultural products. The project aims to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities, and increase producer income for the agricultural business. As a small, for-profit agricultural cooperative that is woman-owned, the Alaska Beauty Peony Cooperative plans to utilize the grant funding for various planning activities, such as feasibility studies, business plans, and marketing plans, as well as working capital for the operational costs of processing and marketing their value-added peony products.