WASHINGTON, DC, US — A pair of specialty grain processors are among five projects in Maine that received a total of nearly $1 million from the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI).
Bouchard Family Farm in Fort Kent, Maine, US, plans to expand its processing facility to double the production of its gluten-free buckwheat flour and boost the use of buckwheat as a rotation crop for local farms. The project includes new construction that will add milling capacity and storage.
Maine Grains in Skowhegan, Maine, will add infrastructure capacity for grain extrusion, enabling the production of ready-to-eat cereals, snacks and bars while supporting Maine farmers. This project aims to connect small producers to new markets and launch three innovative cereal products using local grains.
The funding, announced Dec. 13, is part of the $420 million available through the RFSI grant program to build capacity within the middle of the supply chain and support local and regional producers.
Through this program, AMS has entered into cooperative agreements with state agencies, commissions and departments responsible for agriculture, commercial food processing, seafood or food system and distribution activities or commerce activities in states and US territories.
“Projects funded through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program are building strength and resilience in Maine’s food system, diversifying agricultural markets, creating new revenue streams for small and mid-sized producers, and providing economic opportunities for local communities,” said Jenny Lester Moffitt, undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs at the USDA. “USDA is grateful for Maine’s support strengthening local and regional agricultural supply chains.”
