USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on Jan. 6 the Biden administration is investing $9.6 million in new investments to 25 meat processing facilities throughout the U.S.
“USDA has undertaken a Department-wide approach to coordinate ways to deliver more opportunities and fairer prices for producers, to give people access to healthier foods, eliminate bottlenecks in the food supply chain and ultimately lower prices for consumers,” Vilsack said in a statement.
USDA is awarding $3.9 million in Value Added Producer Grant program grants to 23 facilities to assist in marketing new products. USDA is also providing guarantees for a total of $5.7 million in loans to two companies through the Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program to support new investments in infrastructure for processing, manufacturing, storage, transportation, wholesaling and distribution.
Some examples include $4.95 million to Bottomland Prime LLC in Amarillo, TX, for the expansion of Edes Custom Meats and a $48,173 grant to Todd Family Meats in Big Timber, MT, to expand production of packaged beef and lamb to meet growing demand.
