18 Projects Funded to Enhance Supply Chain Resilience and Support Small Producers Across Utah
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has partnered with the state of Utah to allocate $2.3 million in funding for 18 projects aimed at bolstering local and regional food systems.
These initiatives, part of the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI), are designed to strengthen the middle of the supply chain, diversify agricultural markets, and create new economic opportunities for small and mid-sized producers.
This collaboration involves two types of grants: Infrastructure Grants and Equipment Grants, distributed through the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. These grants target improvements in processing, storage, and distribution capacities to enhance food system efficiency and reduce vulnerabilities. Notably, the funding supports projects like the construction of new facilities, the addition of cold storage, and increased training opportunities for agricultural workers.
One project benefitting from this funding is Grammy’s Fruit and Produce in Willard, Utah. The company will use an Infrastructure Grant to construct a new facility equipped with cold storage and loading docks. This expansion aims to create a more sustainable and inclusive food distribution model, particularly in rural areas of the state.
Similarly, the International Rescue Committee in Salt Lake City will use its Infrastructure Grant to improve facilities that handle food processing, storage, and delivery. The committee will also provide technical assistance to 50 refugee and immigrant farmers, empowering them to contribute to Utah’s agricultural sector.
Other recipients, such as Farm Yard Fresh in Mayfield, Utah, will leverage Equipment Grants to address specific operational challenges. Farm Yard Fresh plans to increase its cold storage and packing capacity, minimizing food spoilage and ensuring the availability of fresh, high-quality produce for local consumers.
According to USDA Marketing and Regulatory Programs Under Secretary Jenny Lester Moffitt, these investments play a pivotal role in enhancing the resilience of Utah’s agricultural supply chains.
“Projects funded through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program are building strength and resilience in Utah’s food system, diversifying agricultural markets, creating new revenue streams for small and mid-sized producers, and providing economic opportunities for local communities,”
Secretary Jenny Lester Moffitt,
The initiative is part of the broader $420 million Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure grant program, funded by President Biden’s American Rescue Plan. The program’s goal is to address systemic weaknesses in food supply chains by supporting projects that enhance in-state processing, distribution, and storage capacities.
Craig Buttars, Commissioner of the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, expressed gratitude for the partnership, emphasizing the program’s impact on local producers. “This funding will help producers throughout our state as they work to build a more resilient food systems infrastructure,” he noted.
Through cooperative agreements with state-level agencies, the RFSI program enables regions to tailor solutions to their unique agricultural challenges. For example, Utah’s focus on rural and underserved communities ensures that the funding addresses critical gaps in its food distribution networks.
