MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) announced six Wisconsin companies will receive Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin (BLBW) Grants to help grow the local food economy.
BLBW is a competitive grant program designed to strengthen Wisconsin’s agriculture and food industries by helping farms and businesses more efficiently process, market, and distribute locally grown food products. BLBW grants provide consumers with access to more Wisconsin-grown food products, including organic vegetables, hops varieties, hazelnut products, locally grown grain, and other value-added products.
“Thanks to the funding provided by the Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin grants, Wisconsin food producers have the enhanced ability to make connections with local distributors, expand their operations, and get more foods to consumers in their local communities, ” said DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski.
DATCP received 37 applications requesting more than $1.4 million total. The grant recipients and their planned projects, totaling $200,000 are:
Main Oriental Market, Green Bay: Develop value-added markets that ensure fair pay and strengthen Wisconsin Hmong farmers’ market share.
Misfits Homegrown LLC, Manitowoc: Improve customer access to high-quality local beef, pork, and poultry products through enhanced distribution.
Prairie Folk Farm, Chilton: Revamp marketing efforts and invest in feed systems innovations at Prairie Folk Farm.
Ranch Brand Meat Co., Chippewa Falls: Implement strategic growth support plan to expand access to Wisconsin-raised beef.
Riemer Family Farm, Brodhead: Conduct a content-driven marketing initiative designed to expand the sales of pasture-raised meats in partnership with Restoration Ranch.
Sacred Blossom Farm, Gilmanton: Improve access to and awareness of Wisconsin-grown herbs, as well as expand distribution, education, and outreach for locally grown herbal teas.
Since the Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin program began in 2008, more than 635 applications have been submitted for the grants, requesting a total of more than $22.4 million in funding. Of those applications, 134 projects have been funded, totaling more than $3.427 million. Previous grant recipients have generated more than $14.7 million in new local food sales, created and retained 544 jobs, and benefited more than 5,600 producers and 5,500 markets.
For more information on DATCP’s Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin Grants, visit https://datcp.wi.gov/
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