MONTPELIER – Hardwick’s Center for an Agricultural Economy (CAE) was awarded an equipment grant of $93,750 to increase the processing and distribution of regional products. The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced over $3 million in Vermont Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI) awards on May 5. The program targets two segments of the Vermont food system; Infrastructure and Equipment.
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Barred Woods Maple in Montgomery Center received a $450,000 infrastructure award, which will allow them to construct a commercial facility to produce value-added maple syrup products.
“Barred Woods currently uses the kitchens at CAE’s Vermont Food Venture Center (VFVC) two or three days per week, making their value-added maple products,” said the CAE’s Jon Ramsay. “They will be building their own facility and we will be sad to see them go, but that is the whole intent of the VFVC; supporting farms and food businesses so when they build their own infrastructure they are ready and the business is scaled to support that next step in growth CAE has supported this farm for many years and it is exciting to see their success.”
“Farms and rural communities are part of what makes Vermont so special,” said Governor Phil Scott. “We’re grateful to have this funding from USDA which will help us make important long-term investments, benefitting the future of Vermont.”
Walden Heights Nursery and Orchard received a $39,785 award to purchase two walk-in outdoor freezers, adding improved cooling capacity and increased storage, allowing them to expand value-added cider production.
The announcement encompasses the $3.1 million in USDA Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure grants that Vermont announced in April 2024, supporting innovative projects designed to build resilience across the middle of the supply chain and strengthen local and regional food systems.
“The CAE has been an essential part of our journey from a start up company to where we are today,” said Barred Woods’ Barb Paggi. “Being able to rent the commercial kitchen at the facility as needed allowed us to develop and produce our products, such as maple granola, without having to make a large initial capital investment.”
“The staff at the CAE and other users of the facility have educated us over time on various food manufacturing and safety requirements,” said Paggi. “Colleen Crist and Jon Ramsay have been particularly helpful in ensuring the equipment we needed was procured and serviced and assisting us to improve our processes.”
“Infrastructure is vital to the future of Vermont’s regional food system,” said Anson Tebbetts, Vermont Secretary of Agriculture. “The small organizations that are receiving these grants make the regional food system work for our producers and consumers and support the public’s access to local food. This was a recommendation of Governor Scott’s Future of Agriculture Commission, and we are thankful to have these investments from USDA.”
As Barred Woods prepares to move on from the CAE incubator, the CAE award will allow them to add “a new 60 gallon kettle that producers at the VFVC will be able to use for many purposes and a second Hobart mixer,” said the CAE’s Ramsay.
A pallet reach truck purchase will “allow us to much more efficiently use the second and third level of pallet racking in the Food Hub. It has the lift and height capacity needed to move full pallets of meat, or ice cream or root crops high up. Lastly, we are looking to get a large electric pallet jack with about a 4,500 pound capacity,” added Ramsay.
“Businesses using the CAE spaces are local farms or food businesses who source all ingredients either from their own operation or from local and regional growers. This will support at least 85 local producers, allow for 15 new value-added products and at least 15 new markets established,” noted the state’s press release.
At Walden Heights Nursery and Orchard, the award will allow Todd Parlo and Lori Augustyniak to purchase equipment that will streamline their process and increase storage of a frozen product, resulting in more units moved through the supply chain, increased food safety compliance and energy efficiency. The investment will result in five new aggregated products and two new markets established, said the state press release.
Paul Fixx is editor of The Hardwick Gazette and lives in Hardwick.
