WASHINGTON, August 31, 2022 – The U.S. Division of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Advertising Service (AMS) at this time introduced a further $21.9 million of funding is being awarded to 111 grant initiatives via the Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant Program (MPIRG), bringing complete funding to $54.6 million. This yr’s awards will fund initiatives in 37 states. The funding will assist strengthen and develop new market alternatives for meat and poultry processors all through the USA. To additional these efforts, AMS can be encouraging MPIRG awardees and eligible members in USDA’s Meat and Poultry Provide Chain initiatives to request help via the Meat and Poultry Processing Capability Technical Help Program (MPPTA). Launched in March 2022, MPPTA connects members to a nationwide community of sources and experience.

“The Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grants will assist meat and poultry processors make crucial facility enhancements, increase their companies, and strengthen the nation’s meals provide chain,” stated Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. “These grants are one a part of USDA’s Meat and Poultry Provide Chain initiatives and can contribute to our efforts to rework our meals system.”

“USDA continues to construct capability and enhance financial alternative for small and midsized meat and poultry producers throughout the nation,” added Below Secretary for Advertising and Regulatory Packages Jenny Lester Moffitt.

Examples of initiatives funded this spherical embrace:

• Homegrown LG OK, a small processing plant in Locust Grove, Okla., will use MPIRG funding to modernize, increase, and adjust to Meals Security and Inspection Service (FSIS) protocols. The funding will enable the plant to buy new machines to extend weekly manufacturing in a rural and low entry space.
• The Fork Meals Lab, a shared-use kitchen incubator in Portland, Maine, will make the most of MPIRG funding to increase right into a 42,000-sq-ft facility that meets the necessities for a Federal Grant of Inspection (GOI). The undertaking helps Fork Meals Lab procure specialised tools, help 5 processors receive Federal GOIs for wholesale distribution, assist startup operations, and supply ongoing coaching and technical help to processors positioned for wholesale.
• The Wall Meat Processing plant in Wall, S.D, has been awarded MPIRG funding to buy tools to enhance humane dealing with and improve meals security measures and efficiencies. The undertaking will assist the plant seamlessly ship service operations in protein manufacturing to their producers and prospects underneath the Cooperative Interstate Transport program (CIS). Taking part within the CIS program will open the plant to bigger markets and add one other useful resource to the meals provide chain.

Facility enhancements and expansions funded via MPIRG will assist processors receive a Federal Grant of Inspection or qualify for a state’s Cooperative Interstate Cargo program. Attaining a Federal Grant of Inspection or working underneath a Cooperative Interstate Cargo program permits meat and poultry processors to ship merchandise throughout state traces, develop new markets, enhance capability, and higher meet shopper and producer demand alongside the availability chain.

MPIRG recipients and different eligible members, particularly small and underserved stakeholders, in USDA’s Meat and Poultry Provide Chain initiatives are inspired to make the most of the broad technical help provided via MPPTA. AMS has cooperative agreements with six organizations to type the MPPTA community, which has already supplied helpful help to over 300 companies and organizations throughout the U.S. and its territories since its launch earlier this yr.

For extra details about MPPTA and the organizations concerned, and to provoke a request for help, go to AMS’ MPPTA webpage. To view the record of this yr’s MPIRG awardees, go to the MPRIG award web page. Further data on MPIRG might be discovered on AMS’ MPIRG webpage.

USDA touches the lives of all People every day in so many optimistic methods. Within the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is remodeling America’s meals system with a better deal with extra resilient native and regional meals manufacturing, reducing prices for American households, creating fairer markets for all producers, guaranteeing entry to protected, wholesome, and nutritious meals in all communities, constructing new markets and streams of revenue for farmers and producers utilizing local weather good meals and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clear vitality capabilities in rural America, and committing to fairness throughout the Division by eradicating systemic boundaries and constructing a workforce extra consultant of America. To study extra, go to www.usda.gov.

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