![](media/image1.jpeg){width="2.5972222222222223in"
height="1.4444444444444444in"} **NEWS RELEASE**

United States Department of Agriculture - Rural Development

World Wide Web:
[http://www.rurdev.usda.gov](http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/)

VERMONT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Carolyn Lawrence

September 27, 2007 (802) 828-6002

**USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT ANNOUNCES THE AWARD OF MORE THAN \$397,000 IN
GRANTS TO SUPPORT VERMONT AGRICULTURE**

**Montpelier, Vt:** Jack Gleason, Senior Advisor to USDA Rural
Development (RD) Under Secretary Thomas Dorr, joined USDA RD State
Director Jolinda H. LaClair, to present four ceremonial checks totaling
more than \$397,000 in grants to agricultural producers in Vermont. The
grants, obtained from USDA Rural Development's Value Added Producer
Grant (VAPG) Program, cover costs to develop and market value added
agricultural products and must be matched 1:1 with funds from the
grantee. The ultimate goal of the program is to increase profitability
to agricultural producers.

\"Vermont farms remain the cornerstone of the working landscape and
economy in our rural communities,\" said Gleason. \"Supporting efforts
to increase their bottom line through value-added product development is
a major emphasis of the USDA Rural Development business assistance
programs.\"

The funding announcement was hosted by Chris and Michaela Granstrom,
owners of Lincoln Peak Vineyard LLC in New Haven, VT. Lincoln Peak
Vineyard was the recipient of a \$116,550 grant that will be used as
working capital. "The goal of this project is to add value to our farm
crop of grapes by processing the grapes into wine at our farm winery,
and marketing the wine, thereby increasing the profitability of our
current grape production," said Granstrom. A \$22,250 VAPG, awarded to
Lincoln Peak Vineyard in 2006, was used to develop feasibility,
marketing and business plans for the creation of a winery to add value
to the farm crop of grapes.

Agri-Mark/Cabot Creamery Cooperative, Inc. received a \$149,000 VAPG
that will be used to expand production of its premium-market, natural
rind cheddar cheese. "At this time, due to limited aging capacity, the
availability of Cabot Clothbound Cheddar is extremely restricted," said
Jed Davis, Cabot Creamery Director of Marketing. "This grant will allow
us to work with the Cellars at Jasper Hill in Greensboro, Vt., to create
this very labor-intensive cheese in quantities that will begin to
satisfy the current demand, estimated at more than ten-fold the level of
our current production." Cabot Clothbound Cheddar was named \"Best of
Show\" by the American Cheese Society in 2006. Cabot Creamery graciously
provided cheese for the funding announcement event.

Lincoln AgriSource, LLC of Randolph Center, VT received a \$74,412 VAPG.
Samuel Lincoln, owner of Lincoln AgriSource, will use the grant money to
formulate a business and marketing plan to add value to his timber
harvesting enterprise. The project will examine the feasibility of
converting pulp, a low grade wood product, into a biomass fuel for an
on-farm renewable energy operation. "I see this on-farm energy
initiative as an opportunity to preserve and advance agriculture and
establish an alternative stronghold in the clean, renewable energy
market that forms the base for a sustainable statewide economy," said
Lincoln. Begun in 1996 as a custom planting and harvesting business for
dairy farmers, Lincoln AgriSource L.L.C. has expanded to provide farmers
in New England and eastern New York with: high quality tillage and
planting equipment,

timber harvesting for Central Vermont landowners, and dry hay and
forages for dairy, equine, sheep and goats.

Pete's Greens and Good Eats will use a \$57,055 VAPG to expand Good Eats
Community Supported Agriculture initiative from 100 to 250 shares,
increase the utilization of an on-farm, commercial kitchen, develop a
year-round farmers' market in Montpelier, VT, and develop a year-round
on-farm retail store. Pete Johnson has been producing high quality,
organic salad greens in Craftsbury and Greensboro VT since 1996. In
2004, he added 190 acres in Craftsbury and greatly increased his
production of other vegetables. In 2006, in response to consumer
interest, Johnson developed Good Eats, which provides a year-round
outlet for the sale of vegetables grown by Pete's Greens as well as food
produced by other farms in northern Vermont and southern Quebec. Since
that time, Johnson has installed an on-farm commercial kitchen and
developed several recipes, making use of the variety of foods offered
through Good Eats. "Expansion of Pete's Greens and Good Eats will
benefit not only the producers but also our customers who are looking
for a dependable source and variety of locally grown, organic foods,
said Johnson."

\"Vermont takes great pride in its roots of an agriculturally-based
economy, and USDA Rural Development is excited about the opportunity to
link our financial resources and technical assistance directly to
Vermonters who work the land," said LaClair. "While we know the
\'Vermont brand\' attracts buyers from across the world to our quality
products, we also know that every producer needs basic ingredients -
business and marketing plans, capital, new market opportunities - to be
successful. If Rural Development funds can increase a producer\'s
customer base, resulting in greater profits to the producer, this
program will have achieved its goal.\"

USDA Rural Development's mission is to increase economic opportunity and
improve the quality of life in Rural America. This is done by providing
financial and technical assistance to foster growth and new
opportunities for business development, home ownership, and critical
community and technology infrastructure. To learn more about USDA Rural
Development programs visit the web site at
<http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/vt>.