USDA Rural Development State Director Terry Brunner said the agency’s Value-Added Producer Grant program has been successful in New Mexico, and touted New Mexico Wineries as an example of a business awarded USDA funds to help with marketing its new line of Hatch chile-infused wine.
The USDA is making $30 million available nationwide to farmers, ranchers and food entrepreneurs to develop new product lines.
Value-Added Producer Grants can be used to develop new product lines from raw agricultural products or additional uses for already developed product lines.
More information on how to apply can be obtained by calling the New Mexico Rural Development Business Program office at 505-761-4956.
The deadline to submit paper applications is July 7th. Electronic applications submitted through grants.gov are due July 2nd.