PROVIDENCE – A total of $95,949 has been awarded to 12 local agriculture and food businesses from the Local Agriculture and Seafood Act grant program.
The grants were overseen by the R.I. Department of Environmental Management, in partnership with the R.I. Food Policy Council. The grants, announced Friday, are intended to aid new and existing small businesses and food initiatives in the state.
“We’re excited to award these grants to help farmers, fishers and food businesses start or expand their operations in Rhode Island,” said DEM Director Janet Coit in prepared remarks. “LASA continues to be an important catalyst in growing a wide range of food and agricultural businesses across our state, and we look forward to celebrating the success of these outstanding initiatives.”
2019 LASA grants:
- Chessawanock Island Oysters in Cranston – $16,647 to implement an oyster farming project to reduce the mortality and increase product durability
- Warren Cider Works Co. in Warren – $15,640 to increase production of hard ciders
- Sweet and Salty Farm in Little Compton: $15,000 to increase production of cheese and yogurt
- Moonstone Mushrooms in South Kingstown – $15,000 to assist a small-scale mushroom grower to increase production of culinary and medicinal mushrooms
- Endless Farm in Johnston – $6,676 to build 10 energy efficient, unheated caterpillar tunnels to produce a year-round supply of greens and herbs at low cost
- Quaintly Farm in Providence – $6,500 to increase the capacity and volume of produce grown through purchase of a walk-in cooler and storage shed, as well as to support the establishment of more farms owned and operated by African-American farmers
- BreenBain LLC in Foster- $5,250 to purchase materials to construct a towable mobile produce cooler
- Roots Farm in Tiverton – $4,725 to increase productivity through the purchase and implementation of scale-appropriate tools for seeding, transplanting and cultivation on a small-scale, non-mechanized farm to increase productivity and to facilitate on-farm workshops
- Stony Lane Apiary in Exeter – $3,445 to build a dedicated, free-standing honey house to process and sell honey and honeybee-related products, as well as collaborate with other beekeepers
- Territorium Farms in North Smithfield- $3,379 to increase production of local beer, wine and beer-wine hybrids by installing trellises for additional hop and grape production
- The Local Patch – $3,087 to build a walk-in cooler to hold harvested produce until sale
- Seaside Botanicals LLC in Foster – $600 to create local-grown herbal products through the purchase and installation of a steam distiller
Chris Bergenheim is the PBN web editor. You may reach him at Bergenheim@PBN.com.
