New York State agriculture officials are rolling out a new round of funding aimed at helping farmers develop and expand value-added food products.
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, in partnership with the New York Farm Viability Institute, announced $1.36 million is now available through a new Research and Development grant tied to the New York State Grown & Certified Program.
State officials say this is the first time funding under the program has been dedicated specifically to research and development projects, with the goal of helping agricultural producers, processors, and distributors bring new products to market or expand distribution of existing ones.
The grant program builds on $8.5 million awarded last fall for infrastructure and technology improvements for participating farms.
State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said the funding is intended to speed up the process of turning product ideas into commercial goods, while supporting farmers enrolled in the Grown & Certified initiative.
Officials with the Farm Viability Institute say the investment is designed to strengthen long-term farm sustainability by supporting product development and commercialization efforts across New York’s agricultural sector.
The new grants will range from $10,000 to $50,000 and will be awarded on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted. They are available only to businesses currently enrolled in the Grown & Certified program that produce edible goods.
Applicants are required to outline where they are in the product development process and what support they need to move forward, whether they are developing a new concept or scaling up an existing product already in the marketplace.
State officials are also promoting upcoming support resources, including a webinar scheduled for July 2 and workshops through Cornell Food Connections, which are designed to assist food and beverage producers with product development and commercialization.
More information, including application details and technical requirements, is available through the New York Farm Viability Institute.
