2002 Value-Added Agricultural Product Market
Development Grant Selections

Alaska - $96,223

United Salmon Association, Kodiak, Alaska
$18,896
Purpose: Conduct feasibility study and create business and marketing plan.

Alaska Farm Bureau - Matsu Chapter, Palmer, Alaska
$30,000
Purpose: Identify the size of potential Alaskan market for value-added
frozen processed vegetables and potatoes.

Kake Tribal Corporation, Kake, Alaska
$47,327
Purpose: Conduct feasibility analysis to determine economic viability and
sustainability of producing organic compost from seafood by-products and
wood waste

Arizona - $271,100

Charles Feenstra Diary, LLC, Mesa, Ariz.
$150,000
Purpose: To complete a feasibility study for the development of an ethanol and
Distillers grain plant in Arizona that would benefit 114 livestock producers.

Arizona Pistachio Association, Tucson, Ariz.
$64,500
Purpose: Conduct feasibility study and prepare business plan in order to
develop a processing facility and direct marketing strategy for
Arizona’s Pistachio production.

Desert Wheat Growers, Maricopa, Ariz.
$56,600
Purpose: To complete feasibility study and business plan for developing a
processing facility and direct marketing strategy for premium alfalfa grown in
Arizona.

Arkansas - $130,000

Bottomland Naturals, Inc., Newport, Ark.
$130,000
Purpose: To provide working capital to start the production of three new birdhouses to be sold through Walmart.

California - $2,732,032

Producer’s Choice, Woodland, Calif.
$271,136
Purpose: To study the potential of opening new geographic markets for seed.

Salman Farms, Inc., Courtland, Calif.
$15,000
Purpose: To develop business plan to create to a new profitable venue for the
grapes it produces.

Golden State Grain Growers Cooperative, Riverdale, Calif.
$39,900
Purpose: To conduct feasibility study for par-baked artisan bread business.

California Wild Rice Growers Association, Falls River Mills, Calif.
$130,000
Purpose: As working capital to develop, package, evaluate and market soy-
enhanced line of wild rice snack chips.

California Dairies, Inc., Artesia, Calif.
$80,579
Purpose: To conduct feasibility study and market survey on converting a
recovered milk product from CDI’s butter/powder processing facility into
value-added animal feed.

Diamond Walnut Growers, Stockton, Calif.
$345,000
Purpose: For working capital for introduction of Diamond Glaze Walnuts
into snack category in domestic retail outlets.

Sunsweet Growers, Inc., Yuba City, Calif.
$500,000
Purpose: To conduct feasibility studies and analyze market potential for
prune plum-based juice formulations.

Farmer’s Rice Cooperative, Inc., Sacramento, Calif.
$350,000
Purpose: To introduce a unique rice product to consumer markets using
individually quick frozen food processing.

Sierra Nevada Beff Steering Committee, Auburn, Calif.
$36,300
Purpose: To conduct beef feasibility study and business plan to evaluate
local and regional markets, develop business ownership model, marketing
techniques, and seek partnerships with existing processors and distributors.

Pacific Coast Producers, Lodi, Calif.
$450,000
Purpose: For working capital for production and marketing of private
label fruit bowls to U.S. retailers.

Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc., Hilmar, Calif.
$134,120
Purpose: To conduct feasibility study of modifying and expanding its
edible grade lactose process to manufactured specialized pharmaceutical
grades of lactose for sale into worldwide markets.

DFA of California, Sacramento, Calif.
$80,000
Purpose: To conduct a feasibility and marketing study and to prepare a business
and marketing plan for dicing and glacing California dried fruits for export to
Mexico and Latin America.

Colorado - $1,231,796

National Bison Association, Denver, Colo.
$249,250
Purpose: To implement a producer-based program to market specific quality
attributes of source verified American Buffalo.

Colorado Gourmet Potatoes, LLC, Saguache, Colo.
$15,000
Purpose: To measure the feasibility of shipping semi-processed chipping
potatoes to Mexico.

Kiowa County Growers, Inc., Eads, Colo.
$243,000
Purpose: For working capital to help start-up a venture to produce base oil
stocks and manufactured products.

American Gelbvieh Association, Westminster, Colo.
$150,000
Purpose: For a program that accurately identifies SmartCross calves, and
establishing a positive reputation for Gelbvieh and Blancher sired feeder calves.

Olathe Patato Growers Cooperative, Olathe, Colo.
$41,300
Purpose: To evaluate the viability of the co-existence of an ethanol plant and
commercial feedlot operation in Western Colorado.

Colorado Homestead Ranches, Paonia, Colo.
$142,936
Purpose: To explore market for ready-to-eat beef entrees.

Mountain View Harvest Cooperative, Longmont, Colo.
$342,310
Purpose: To develop a marketing program for new products recently developed.

Fruita Consumers Cooperative, Fruita, Colo.
$48,000
Purpose: To determine whether or not a soy food processing business would
be a profitable, value-added enterprise for the producers of the Fruita area.

Connecticut - $12,500

Burton H. Griffin, West Suffield, Ct.
$12,500
Purpose: To conduct a feasibility study, business plan and market research to
determine the viability of an agri-tourism venture at Beaver Brook Farm.

Delaware - $425,000

Just Shrimp, Inc., Lewes, Del.
$225,000
Purpose: To purchase office equipment, supplies, inventory and other working
capital needs for the venture.

Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., Wilmington, Del.
$200,000
Purpose: To conduct a feasibility study to determine the best methods for selling
the company’s white cranberry juice in the United Kingdom.

Florida - $147,660

James and Brenda Gibbons and Connie Munzing, Fort Pierce, Fla.
$15,000
Purpose: To expand the marketing of their “certified organic” products.

Alligator Trading Company, Inc., Dade City, Fla.
$132,660
Purpose: To find new markets for finished products made from alligator hides.

Georgia - $315,350

Concordia, LLC, Ashburn, Ga.
$15,000
Purpose: To determine feasibility of collectively marketing peanuts by cleaning,
grading, and segregating the peanuts according to variety and grade.

Farmers Oilseed Cooperative, Inc., Tifton, Ga.
$149,000
Purpose: To develop a detailed business and marketing plan for the oilseeds
processed in their crushing/refining facility.

Jacob W. Paulk Farms, Inc., Wray, Ga.
$126,350
Purpose: To establish a working capital account to fund the development of
processes to enhance the value of muscadines into anti-oxidant powders and a
health good-tasting juice.

Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Pecans, Atlanta, Ga.
$25,000
Purpose: To conduct marketing research to determine feasibility of establishing
a branded “Georgia Grown” pecan.

Hawaii - $338,195

Hawaii Gold Cacao Tree, Inc., Hilo, Hawaii
$126,300
Purpose: To develop a marketing plan to guide and launch Hawaii grown cacao
and manufactured chocolate into the global marketplace.

Kilauea Agronomics, LLC, Kilauea, Hawaii
$100,000
Purpose: To support the marketing efforts of fortified guava based juice products
for institutional use.

TLS Corp., Waimanalo, Hawaii
$111,895
Purpose: To complete a feasibility study and marketing and business plan for
Southeast Asian herbs and vegetables.

Idaho - $838,835

$349,000
Salmon Creek Farms Marketing, Twin Falls, Idaho
Purpose: For marketing of natural pork products.

Merrill’s Egg Farm, Emmett, Idaho
$39,835
Purpose: To study the feasibility of converting poultry waste into energy and
creating carbon by-products.

Treasure Valley Renewable Resources, Weiser, Idaho
$450,000
Purpose: A planning grant to develop a 15-million gallon producer owned
ethanol fuel production facility.

Illinois - $1,244,650

Shawnee Winery Cooperative, Inc., Vienna, Ill.
$52,000
Purpose: To allow grape growers to establish a secure market and capture
the advantages of centralized marketing, processing, bottling and retail wine sales.

Illinois Branded Beef, LLC, Scales Mound, Ill.
$92,200
Purpose: To market high quality branded beef products to quality conscience
Chicago consumers through a closed marketing alliance with independent grocers.

Illinois Corn Marketing Board, Bloomington, Ill.
$30,000
Purpose: To conduct a market study and update a business plan for the producers’
two corn value-added co-products: oil and zein.

Ag Guild of Illinois, Minier, Ill.
$11,050
Purpose: To develop a grain segregation program for AGI members.

Midwest Prairie Products, LLC, Walnut, Ill.
$59,400
Purpose: To determine feasibility and business model for establishing a flexible
soybean processing plant in North Central Illinois.

Meadowbrook Farms Cooperative, Belleville, Ill.
$500,000
Purpose: To develop and implement an “Identity Preservation and Carcuss
Tracking System”.

LincolnLand Agri-Energy, Robinson, Ill.
$500,000
Purpose: To help construct and operate a producer owned 40-million gallon per year
ethanol production facility.

Indiana - $68,500
Winzerwald Winery, LLC, Bristow, Ind.
$14,000
Purpose: For working capital to pay salaries, utilities, inventory and supplies to
establish a winery in Southern Indiana.

Greencastle/Putnam County, Greencastle, Ind.
$54,500
Purpose: To develop a business plan for establishing a corn
bio-energy/ bio-refinery in Putnam County, Indiana.

Iowa - $5,609,680

Greene Bean Project, Cooper, Iowa
$12,900
Purpose: To explore the feasibility of marketing edible beans and developing a
business plan on how the operation will operate.

North Central Cooperative, Clarion, Iowa
$32,300
Purpose: To explore feasibility of expanding their value-added activity of
cleaning of egg laying facilities and the re-use/recycling of the chicken litter
gathered in the process.

World Food Processing, Inc., Oskaloosa, Iowa
$350,000
Purpose: For working capital to assist in the expansion of their production and
marketing of new, high quality, non-GMO food grade soybeans into three markets
previously untapped by WFP.

Iowa Quality Beef Supply Cooperative, Ames, Iowa
Purpose: For working capital to assist in the equity development, start-up and
operation of a beef processing facility in Tama, Iowa.
$500,000

Big River Resources Cooperative, Mediapolis, Iowa
$500,000
Purpose: For working capital to assist in the start-up of a 40-million gallon ethanol
plant.

Practical Farmers of Iowa, Ames, Iowa
$108,544
Purpose: To complete a feasibility study on the development of a cooperative
business that will develop an integrated supply chain to provide food service markets
with premium pork products.

Power Plus Technologies, Ruthven, Iowa
$500,000
Purpose: For working capital to assist in the start-up and operation of a soy
biodiesel plant.

Ag Ventures Alliance Cooperative, Mason City, Iowa
$149,000
Purpose: To study the feasibility of an aquaculture business venture that will
add value to the grain produced by its farmer-owners.

Delaware County Meats, Dyersville, Iowa
$34,620
Purpose: For planning to produce, process and market value-added “Heat and
Serve” pork products on a regional scale.

Central Iowa Soy Producers, Jefferson, Iowa
$50,000
Purpose: To explore the feasibility of creating a soy processing facility in
Jefferson, Iowa.

Wholesome Harvest, LLC, Colo, Iowa
$149,000
Purpose: To assist the group in marketing pasture based organic meat on
a national level.

Quad County Corn Processors, Galva, Iowa
Purpose: For working capital to assist in the marketing of a new product developed
from a co-product of the ethanol process.
$450,000

Eden Farms, State Center, Iowa
$31,000
Purpose: To assist with legal advise and develop a business plan, feasibility study,
and source verification plan.

American Natural Soy Processors, LLC, Cherokee, Iowa
$250,000
Purpose: For working capital to assist in the start-up and operation of an organic
soy processing facility in Cherokee, Iowa.

Galva Holstein Ag, LLC, Holstein, Iowa
$75,000
Purpose: To determine feasibility of using dried distiller’s grain as the basis
for an environmentally friendly fertilizer. Dried distiller’s grain is a by-product
created in the process of making ethanol.

Iowa Cooperative, Ford Dodge, Iowa
$195,000
Purpose: For planning purposes to carry out a series of activities intended to
resolve issues associated with the production of recombinant proteins for human
medical and industrial chemical application in agriculture crops.

Iowa Pork Producers Association, Clive, Iowa
$41,400
Purpose: To conduct a feasibility study of exporting and marketing pork stomachs
in Mainland China.

Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, West Des Moines, Iowa
$48,500
Purpose: To assist in the planning and development of the marketing of
eleven farmer-owned ethanol plants either in production or under construction.

Soymaize Farms, LLC, Waterloo, Iowa
$50,000
Purpose: For working capital for the operation of a soy processing and soy-
grease manufacturing venture.

Iowa Quality Agriculture Guild, LLC, Winfield, Iowa
$184,410
Purpose: To conduct a feasibility study and develop a business plan for an
ISO accountability system.

Iowa Corn Promotion Board, Johnston, Iowa
$146,550
Purpose: To conduct a market study for expanding exports of value-enhanced
corn and co-products to the emerging markets in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Golden Grain Energy, LLC, New Hampton, Iowa
$74,000
Purpose: To assist the venture in studying the feasibility of entering the emerging
ethanol market.

Little Souix Corn Processors, Marcus, Iowa
$450,000
Purpose: For working capital to assist in the start-up of a 40-million gallon
ethanol plant.

Summit Grove Winery Cooperative, Stuart, Iowa
$35,300
Purpose: To explore the feasibility of owning a cooperative winery that will be
wholly owned by the cooperative’s independent grape producers.

Jewell Enterprise Incorporated, Decorah, Iowa
$7,200
Purpose: To explore the feasibility of marketing organic beef.

SOYLINK, Oskaloosa, Iowa
$500,000
Purpose: For working capital that will allow the soy powder enterprise
to enter the food industry.

Midwest Pride Systems, LLC, Hubbard, Iowa
$107,956
Purpose: For working capital to assist in the expansion and operation of their
pork marketing company.

Quality Organic Producers Cooperative, Decorah, Iowa
$500,000
Purpose: For working capital to market four unique soy beverages.

Iowa Soybean Promotion Board, Urbandale, Iowa
$77,000
Purpose: To conduct a feasibility study for using soybean oil as a base fuel
to produce renewable energy.

Kansas - $2,051,105

21st Century Grain Processing, Manhattan, Kan.
$500,000
Purpose: For working capital to expand flour milling at their Texas facility into
hard white wheat and expand their market for flour and food grade corn through
their new distribution center in California.

Padonia Grain Farmers, Inc., Reserve, Kan.
$50,750
Purpose: To conduct a feasibility study and develop a business plan for segregating
and marketing high protein corn in domestic feed markets.

Cooperative Agricultural Services, Inc., Grinnell, Kan.
$500,000
Purpose: For working capital for operation of soybean crushing facility.

Jewell County Sunflower Processing, Randall, Kan.
$41,000
Purpose: To conduct a feasibility study for a sunflower processing plant, and if
appropriate, a business plan.

Western Plains Energy, LLC, Quinter, Kan.
$290,615
Purpose: To finance start-up cost for 30-million ethanol plan near Oakley, Kansas.

American White Wheat Producers Association, Atchison, Kans.
$218,710
Purpose: For a feasibility study and business plan development for processing
hard white wheat into heavy bran for use in breakfast cereals and specialty breads.

East Kansas Agri-Energy, LLC, Garnett, Kan
$450,000
Purpose: To finance start-up expenses of a 20-million ethanol plant
near Garnett, Kan.

Kentucky - $597,922

Partners for Family Farms, Lexington, Ky.
$89,800
Purpose: To add-value through on-farm processing of poultry, aquaculture and
other alternative livestock species.

Kentucky Heritage Meats, Springfield, Ky.
$120,000
Purpose: To start a value-added livestock marketing venture.

Cumberland Farm Products Association, Inc., Monticello, Ky.
$38,250
Purpose: To conduct feasibility study on adding value to cabbage, tomatoes
and bell peppers.

Kentucky West Nursery Cooperative, Murray, Ky.
$349,872
Purpose: For working capital to pay salaries, utilities and marketing costs in
order to enter into the wholesale nursery business.

Maine - $108,000

Maine Sustainable Agriculture Society, Orono, Maine
$108,000
Purpose: For working capital for the operational costs of linking central Maine
institutions with local agricultural producers to tap the emerging market for locally
grown, organic and conventional foods.

Maryland - $759,930

Howard County Growers, LLP, Glenelg, Md.
$10,100
Purpose: To expand their marketing and advertising efforts, hire a project
administrator and accountant and pay other operating expenses for their weekly
packaging and delivery of locally grown produce.

Chesapeake Fields Farmers, Chestertown, Md.
$249,830
Purpose: To complete a feasibility study and business plan for a value-added
venture to process small grains and eventually operate a bakery.

Heartland Fields-East, LLC, Stevensville, Md.
$500,000
Purpose: To expand retail marketing efforts throughout the United States and
overseas, further develop service markets, branch out to Private Label and
expand soy based food product line.

Massachusetts - $1,110,000

Pioneer Valley Milk Marketing, Bernardston, Mass.
$50,000
Purpose: To conduct market study and operational business plan for an expansion
of “Our Family Farms” dairy products and sales.

National Grape Cooperative Association, Concord, Mass.
$450,000
Purpose: To launch a new and unique fruit based and granola breakfast product.

United Cooperative Farmers, Inc., Fitchburg, Mass.
$200,000
Purpose: To convert the Guilderland, N.Y. feed milling plant into a state-of-the-art,
bio-secure, segmented livestock feed manufacturing plant.

New England Livestock Alliance, Hardwick, Mass.
$150,000
Purpose: To support marketing of a new meat product that is produced with
solar energy rather than petroleum products.

Decas Cranberry Products, Inc., Wareham, Mass.
$240,000
Purpose: To develop new uses for cranberry byproducts.

United Cooperative Farmers, Inc., Fitchburg, Mass.
$50,000
Purpose: To complete a feasibility study and marketing and business plan to
create a new, fully traceable, dedicated organic feed manufacturing venture.

Michigan - $1,263,033

Bahrman’s Blue Ribbon Dairy, Gwinn, Mich.
$150,000
Purpose: To create a value-added dairy processing center which includes
high quality fluid milk, cheeses, butter and ice cream.

Great Lakes Organic Processors, Carson City, Mich.
$86,400
Purpose: To study feasibility of marketing a variety of Michigan organic products.

Midwest Nut Producers Council, Owosso, Mich.
$74,605
Purpose: To assess the feasibility of marketing products produced from small
and broken peeled chestnuts.

Uncle John’s Cider Mill, Inc., St. Johns, Mich.
$98,750
Purpose: To begin operations of a fermentation process for apples.

Hart Freeze Pack, Hart, Mich.
$247,000
Purpose: For working capital to support their quick frozen onion operations.

Michigan Apple Committee, DeWitt, Mich.
$120,522
Purpose: To conduct a feasibility study on fermented and distilled apple beverages.

Thumb Oilseed Producers Cooperative, Ubly, Mich.
$150,000
Purpose: To develop a non-GMO soy flour enterprise.

21st Century Alliance of Michigan, Ubly, Mich.
$50,000
Purpose: To develop a marketing and business plan for raising capital to create
a integrated supply chain that would allow producers to maintain ownership from the
field to the retail shelf.

Big North Specialty Foods, Honor, Mich.
$25,470
Purpose: To develop a business plan for the distribution of value-added products
to a larger scale network. Products include organic wild fruit, mushrooms and leeks,
buffalo meats, specialty fish products and maple syrup.

Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association, Lake Leelanau, Mich.
$30,000
Purpose: For working capital for professional services, marketing management,
advertising and promotion of regional wine industry.

Cherry Marketing Institute, DeWitt, Mich.
$71,756
Purpose: To develop generic, cherry-related, health benefit information and
point-of-sale material to businesses that are involved in selling cherry
juice concentrate.

Michigan Cherry Committee, DeWitt, Mich.
$83,530
Purpose: To develop marketing strategies for novel premium Michigan
cherry varieties.

Black and Red, Inc., Traverse City, Mich.
$25,000
Purpose: To conduct a feasibility study and business plan for the development
of a carbonated fruit beverage using the “Charmat” pressurized techniques.

Peacock Road Tree Farm, LLC, Laingsburg, Mich.
$50,000
Purpose: To purchase high-end Christmas decoration inventory for their
Christmas tree farm and gift shop, to market their new line through television
advertisement and pay employees.

Minnesota - $1,968,950

American Crystal Sugar Company, Moorhead, Minn.
$166,450
Purpose: For development of a value-added food grade sugar beet pulp for
use as a thickening, suspending and moisture retention agent in a wide variety
of human food applications.

MG Grass Seed, LLC, Roosevelt, Minn.
$150,000
Purpose: For working capital to establish a new grass seed cleaning and
Marketing company, effective systems for identifying preservation and crop
segregation and develop new markets for the grass seed.

Midwest Investorys of Renville, Renville, Minn.
$225,000
Purpose: To research the feasibility of a joint partnership with Primera Foods
for a new facility that will process eggs beyond the raw state and create new
markets for further processed value-added egg products.

Earthwise Processors, LLC, Moorhead, Minn.
$150,000
Purpose: For working capital to increase sales of preserved crops in new domestic
and international markets.

Harvest Land Cooperative, Morgan, Minn.
$148,000
Purpose: To assist in the development of on-farm renewable energy generation
using wind.

Cenex Harvest States, Inver Grove Heights, Minn.
$94,000
Purpose: To study the feasibility of expanding the demand for high extractable
starch corn.

SoyMor, Albert Lea, Minn.
$500,000
Purpose: To develop a business-marketing plan for new types of processed soy oil.

Generation II Ethanol, LLC, Brewster, Minn.
$250,000
Purpose: To assess the feasibility of a venture which will help transform farmers
from food producers to food and energy producers.

St. Paul Growers Association, Inc., St. Paul, Minn.
$135,500
Purpose: For working capital to provide business support resources for development
of value-added agricultural products, new expanded, year-round selling space and
on-line retail sales opportunities for grower/producers.

Blue Mound Soy, Luverne, Minn.
$150,000
Purpose: To develop markets for processed identity preserved soybeans.

Mississippi - $329,511

Cook Swine Farm, Starkville, Miss.
$65,429
Purpose: To assess the availability and feasibility under specific Mississippi conditions
of various bioenergy technologies that could be controlled and/or implemented
by swine farmers.

Mississippi Association of Cooperatives, Jackson, Miss.
$150,000
Purpose: To determine the feasibility of marketing a variety of value-added
products from fresh vegetables either individually or jointly through the
Mississippi Association of Cooperatives.

Syrisia’s Food, Jackson, Miss.
$66,050
Purpose: To conduct a feasibility study and develop a business and marketing
plan for a processing facility that produces sweet potato chip and frozen pies and fries.

K & G Farms, Carthage, Miss.
$48,032
Purpose: To help Mississippi poultry producers enhance their economic well-being
through optimal management of litter generated on production farms.

Missouri - $2,817,804

Missouri Northern Pecan Growers, LLC, Nevada, Mo.
$24,620
Purpose: To conduct a market study for establishing an organic pecan market.

Dairy Farmers of America, Kansas City, Mo.
$115,500
Purpose: To conduct a feasibility study to determine the market feasibility of
four new whey protein products developed by DFA.

U.S. Premium Beef, Ltd., Kansas City, Mo.
$500,000
Purpose: To conduct a feasibility study and business and development plan for
acquisition of a major ownership interest in the Farmland National Beef Packing
Company.

Farms Food Coop, Inc., Wellsville, Mo.
$200,000
Purpose: For working capital to support the start-up operations of a hormone,
steroid and sub-therapeutic antibiotic free beef canning operation.

Missouri Corn Growers Association, Jefferson City, Mo.
$234,834
Purpose: To develop a marketing strategy and business plan to illustrate to producers
the value of the identity preserve system and to implement the system with sound
business practices.

Mid-America Biofuels, LLC, Jefferson City, Mo.
$450,000
Purpose: To establish a profitable producer owned biodiesel plant in Missouri.

Missouri Soybean Association, Jefferson City, Mo.
$120,000
Purpose: For the development of a soy snack manufacturing entity.

Ozark Mountain Pork Cooperative, Mountain View, Mo.
$133,500
Purpose: To develop an alliance between rural farmers and rural grocers to
increase demand for naturally grown pork through marketing of processed
meats such as hams, bacon and sausage products.

Missouri Soybean Association, Jefferson City, Mo.
$125,000
Purpose: To develop a nutritionally-enhanced energy source facility for
livestock rations.

Missouri Food and Fiber, Inc., Jefferson City, Mo.
$249,500
Purpose: For operating and promotional costs during the scale up operations
of this cooperative that delivers identity preserved soybeans, corn, wheat, grain
sorghum, cotton and rice.

Mississippi Valley Processors, Shelbyville, Mo.
$66,000
Purpose: To develop a business plan and establish the legal documents to
organize the producer-owned specialty soybean processing corporation.

AgraMarke Quality Grains, Inc., St. Joseph, Mo.
$458,850
Purpose: For working capital to implement an identity preservation system
for grain handling and marketing.

Western Missouri Ethanol Trust, Rockville, Mo.
$140,000
Purpose: To develop a marketing strategy and business and marketing plan for a
30-million gallon ethanol plant.

Montana - $854,867

Amazing Grains Cooperative, Ronan, Mont.
$323,837
Purpose: For working capital to expand processing capacity and market for a
value-added gluten-free Indian ricegrass product.

Montana Eco Fuels, Thompson Falls, Mont.
$46,030
Purpose: To assess the feasibility and develop a business plan for adding value to
Montana grown oil seed crops by processing them into industrial grade vegetable
oil and biodiesel additive.

Montana Grain Growers Association, Great Falls, Mont.
$340,000
Purpose: To conduct a feasibility study and marketing plan for the commercialization
of an identity preserved barley.

Northwest Natural Beef, Big Timber, Mont.
$45,000
Purpose: To develop a business and marketing plan as well as to determine the
feasibility of forming a 100 percent producer owned cooperative to add value
to the cattle by producing natural cattle and processing them for niche market
sales through branded product.

Flathead Nation Agricultural Cooperative, Ronan, Mont.
$100,000
Purpose: For working capital to develop Indian branded value-added beef products.

Nebraska - $1,635,160

Imperial Young Farmers and Ranchers, Imperial, Neb.
$40,000
Purpose: To conduct a feasibility study for developing a biomass ethanol and
electric facility that utilizes waste crops such as corn stover and wheat straw.

Shuck Family Limited Partnership, Edgar, Neb.
$9,105
Purpose: To assess the feasibility of a salsa production facility in South Central
Nebraska and develop a business, market analysis and financial plan.

Small Farms Cooperative, West Point, Neb.
$250,000
Purpose: To obtain technical assistance in creating a natural meat certification
and definition program and establish the cooperative’s emerging European markets.

St. James Market Place, Wynot, Neb.
$34,500
Purpose: To develop a feasibility study, business and marketing plan and legal cost
to help develop and enlarge their business of locally made products.

Kansas/Nebraska Meat Goat, Orleans, Neb.
$12,855
Purpose: To complete a feasibility study and business development plan to
determine opportunities for producers in the adjoining states to enter and
compete in the meat goat market.

Nebraska Corn-Fed Beef, Inc., Lincoln, Neb.
$150,000
Purpose: To develop new markets, implement new technologies to support the
expansion of the value-added program and develop new supply by attracting
more beef producers into the program.

Farmers Coop Oil Company, Newman Grove, Neb.
$22,300
Purpose: To investigate the economic and market feasibility of locally grown and
processed soybeans for oil and meal.

Panhandle Chicory Growers Association, Inc., Scottsbluff, Neb.
$67,500
Purpose: To conduct a feasibility study and develop a business and marketing plan for Chicory to Inulin processing.

Western Nebraska Vineyard Association, Gering, Neb.
$6,000
Purpose: To complete a feasibility study and marketing and business plan to
assist in the determination of a successful grower-owned winery.

KAAPA, Kearney, Neb.
$154,950
Purpose: To conduct a feasibility study and market study for niche market,
Quality differentiated and identity preserved grain sales to Mexico.

Ag Processing Inc., Omaha, Neb.
$346,950
Purpose: To assist with the expansion of markets for its SoyGold (solvent) program.

Dorchester Farmers Cooperative, Dorchester, Neb.
$500,000
Purpose: For working capital to develop the necessary systems to coordinate the
handling, contracting and movement of large volumes of value-added
identity preserved grains.

Natural Quality Direct Steering, Indianola, Neb.
$41,000
Purpose: To assist with project initiation, feasibility study, legal and structural
fees and business planning to help expand the cooperative’s beef, dairy
and poultry product markets.

New Jersey - $390,200

M.R. Dickinson & Son, Bridgeton, N.J.
$14,000
Purpose: To conduct market, production and business structure studies for
developing value-added products using culinary herbs, corn, wheat or hay as inputs.

BJ Farms, Bridgeton, N.J.
$25,100
Purpose: To establish a year-round, value-added tomato processing operation.

Sussex County Milk Producers, Lafayette, N.J.
$107,000
Purpose: To conduct a feasibility analysis and develop a business plan for
producing a variety of New Jersey fresh value-added dairy products, benefiting
producers in Sussex and Warren Counties.

Jersey Fruit Cooperative Association, Glassboro, N.J.
$25,100
Purpose: To conduct a market audit study for New Jersey peaches to identify
future value-added markets.

Garden State Ethanol, Inc., Bordentown, N.J.
$219,000
Purpose: To conduct a feasibility study and develop a business plan for a
farmer-owned biorefinery, greenhouse and aquaculture facility.

New York - $620,688

Northeast Cervid Cooperative, Candor, N.Y.
$53,100
Purpose: To conduct a feasibility study and develop a business plan as part
of the planning effort to begin marketing and selling deer and elk meat products
on the East Coast.

Mohawk Valley Grown Association, Oriskany, N.Y.
$40,000
Purpose: For legal fees, development of a trademark program for Mohawk Valley
products, securing additional producers and buyer commitments and assessing the
feasibility of establishing a cooperative business relationship with related N.Y.
production facilities.

New York Natural Beef Cooperative, Forestville, N.Y.
$248,258
Purpose: To purchase an existing brand, Lake Country Premium, and serve
primarily as a standard setting and marketing organization for New York
producers of high quality, naturally raised beef.

Martens Country Kitchen Products, Port Byron, N.Y.
$249,330
Purpose: To develop, manufacture and market a new, ready to use, fresh, whole
peeled potato product with extended shelf life using no sulfites for the foodservice
Industry.

Catskill Family Farms Cooperative, Inc., Delhi, N.Y.
$30,000
Purpose: For working capital to enter new markets for small specialty potatoes
and certified organic fingerling potatoes.

North Carolina - $79,618

Blue Ridge Shrooms in Bloom, Sugar Grove, N.C.
$58,368
Purpose: To develop a business plan for marketing opportunities for innovative
organic edible and medicinal mushroom production.

Tidewater Soy Processors, Pantego, N.C.
$21,250
Purpose: To conduct a feasibility study and business plan to determine the viability
of a value-added soybean processing facility for Eastern North Carolina.

North Dakota - $1,789,800

Heartland Durum Growers Cooperative, Crosby, N.D.
$500,000
Purpose: For salaries, employee benefits and utilities for the value-added durum
processing facility.

Heart of the Valley, LLC, Mayville, N.D.
$150,000
Purpose: Working capital for the dehydrated edible bean product manufacturer.

Dakota Renewable Fuels, LLC, Fargo, N.D.
$167,500
Purpose: To complete a business plan, complete offering documents, conduct
equity drive and complete other activities need to develop a 30-million gallon
dry mill ethanol plant.

Iso-Straw Cooperative, Inc., Finley, N.D.
$378,040
Purpose: To determine economic feasibility of producing a medium-density
fiberboard from straw and well it as a sanded raw board.

Dakota Pride Cooperative, Jamestown, N.D.
$94,260
Purpose: To conduct market research, develop a business and marketing plan,
membership drive, legal/accounting fees and other expenses for value-added,
identity preserved food products.

Fessenden Cooperative Association, Fessenden, N.D.
$500,000
Purpose: For working capital to purchase inventory and pay other direct and
marketing costs for a producer-grown bird seed.

Ohio - $900,000

Cinergy Services, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio
$50,000
Purpose: To conduct a feasibility study and business plan for biomass co-firing
in Indiana.

United Producers, Inc., Columbus, Ohio
$500,000
Purpose: To implement a producer owned verified beef network.

Farm Fresh Growers Marketing, Winchester, Ohio
$150,000
Purpose: To conduct a feasibility study of a joint venture with a food processing
company to produce home meal replacements.

Ohio Soybean Council, Dublin, Ohio
$50,000
Purpose: To evaluate the technical and commercial feasibility of manufacturing
and marketing frozen tofu in Ohio.

The Association of Appalachia’s, Athens, Ohio
$150,000
Purpose: To conduct a feasibility plan to develop a nutraceutical market for native
Ohio grapes.

Oklahoma - $231,000

Oklahoma Farmers Union Sustainable, Medford, Okla.
$231,000
Purpose: To determine feasibility and financial sustainability of a new generation
cooperative that will enable grain producers to utilize new and expanding
biotechnology to enter new energy markets utilizing grains (hull-less barley)
for the production of bioenergy products.

Oregon - $367,500

RainSweet, Inc., Salem, Ore.
$250,000
Purpose: For working capital to pay production costs, advertising travel
expenses, trade show expenses and product customization expenses
for new berry products.

Oregon Trail Beef Cooperative, Unity, Ore.
$25,000
Purpose: To conduct a market/feasibility study, marketing plan, advertising
campaign strategy, identify a distribution system and design sales material to
most effectively market the company’s branded beef.

Greener Pastures Poultry, LLC, Noti, Ore.
$30,000
Purpose: To conduct a feasibility study for expanding its poultry processing
facility and to complete a comprehensive business plan for expansion of operations.

Oregon Sheep Growers Association, Inc., Salem, Ore.
$62,500
Purpose: To conduct feasibility study for developing a lamb processing plant in
Oregon and to develop an operation plan with a marketing strategy and
financial projections.

Pennsylvania - $814,141

Pennsylvania Beef Council, Middletown, Pa.
$105,000
Purpose: For planning purposes to enable the council to expand participation and
education the consumer about the value-added beef products being introduced to
the Pennsylvania market.

Pennsylvania Cooperative Potato, Harrisburg, Pa.
$450,000
Purpose: For working capital to pay operating cost of dehydrated potato
product processing facility.

Eastern States Bison Cooperative, Lake Ariel, Pa.
$109,141
Purpose: For working capital to provide for processing, packaging, labeling,
distribution, marketing and sales of value-added bison meat.

American Corn Growers Association, Washington, D.C.
$150,000
Purpose: To provide farmers and farm organizations with the tools to evaluate
the feasibility of ethanol production and build consumer awareness of the role
ethanol-blended fuels could play in meeting Clean Air Standards.

South Carolina - $500,000

S.C. Farm Bureau Marketing Association, Columbia, S.C.
$500,000
Purpose: To procure soybeans from Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina
and the eastern Midwest.

South Dakota - $600,000

South Dakota Ag Producers Ventures, Canton, S.D.
$150,000
Purpose: To conduct a feasibility study for creating an integrated lamb and
veal slaughter and processing company in South Dakota.

South Dakota Farmers Union, Huron, S.D.
$450,000
Purpose: To conduct a feasibility study to determine if renewable energy (ethanol)
produced from corn and processed biowaste from the dairy industry would be
economically, financially and technically feasible.

Tennessee - $39,800

Appalachian Spring Cooperative, Sneedville, Tenn.
$39,800
Purpose: To pay salary of project coordinator to enlist new members to produce
crops for processing into value-added specialty food products and assist members
in establishing “productive alliances” to add value to crops and products produced.

Texas - $625,937

Affordable Building Systems, LLC, Whitewright, Texas
$137,500
Purpose: To purchase 6,000 tons of wheat straw to produce building panels for
walls and ceilings and to conduct a study on soft red winter wheat varieties and
their attributes for the manufacturing process.

Central Texas Ag Development, Rockdale, Texas
$65,850
Purpose: To establish an ethanol facility.

Now and Forever Flowers, Wimberley, Texas
$149,429
Purpose: To conduct an evaluation of the economic and market potential of
processing fresh cut flowers into dried flower products.

Farmers Cooperative Elevator, Levelland, Texas
$249,658
Purpose: To assist a grain elevator cooperative enter into a new market by
constructing an ethanol production facility.

Texas-New Mexico Sugar Beet Growers Association, Hereford, Texas
$23,500
Purpose: To conduct a feasibility study for purchasing, updating and operating
an existing sugar mill.

Utah - $420,000

Utah Wool Growers Association, Logan Utah
$420,000
Purpose: For working capital to launch a marketing program to sell a BBQ
lamb product.

Vermont - $380,469

Vermont Quality Meats Cooperative, Brattleboro, Vt.
$75,469
Purpose: To offset cost of sales staff, delivery staff and marketing initiatives
related to expanding and diversifying specialty markets in New York City
and Boston for branded Vermont grown meat products produce by the 47
producer/member cooperative.

Adams Petting Farm, Wilmington, Vt.
$5,000
Purpose: To conduct a feasibility study and develop a business plan for
marketing Merino Sheep wool products, maple syrup and related maple products.

Agri-Mark, Inc., Montpelier, Vt.
$300,000
Purpose: To support the dairy cooperative’s venture initial in-store
sampling/introduction/marketing initiatives and direct mailing expenses.

Virginia - $308,900

Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, Richmond, Va.
$44,750
Purpose: To create a commercially viable ethanol production facility, converting
corn to ethanol, distillers grains and carbon dioxide.

Green Virginia Ethanol Project, Reedville, Va.
$211,650
Purpose: To conduct a feasibility study on fuel ethanol production in a grain mill
or cellulose hydrolysis or hybrid facility in Virginia.

Virginia Identity Preserved Grains, LLC, West Point, Va.
$52,500
Purpose: For working capital to hire a consultant for the marketing and sales of
specialized wheat from quality assured wheat cultivars to the baking industry.

Washington - $1,689,579

Darigold, Inc., Seattle, Wash.
$450,000
Purpose: To support services associated with the conversion and expansion of a
milk condensing facility to a cream/non-fat dry milk power dehydration facility.

Last Mile Electric Cooperative, Olympia, Wash.
$150,000
Purpose: To assess the feasibility of installing small scale wind turbines on
farms in the Pacific Northwest

Karlon Farms, LLC, Fairfield, Wash.
$65,000
Purpose: To complete a feasibility study for utilizing grain and grass straw
for supplemental biomass fuel to be used for electric generation.

Cascade Ag Services, Inc., Mount Vernon, Wash.
$150,000
Purpose: To expand the consumer sales base and enter into three emerging
markets -- brine cucumbers as an “ingredient”, sauerkraut and organic
cucumber production.

Pro-Mar Select Wheat of Idaho, Inc., Clarkston, Wash.
$47,500
Purpose: To conduct a feasibility study to analyze marketing opportunities of
several wheat based products.

Family Forest Foundation, Ethel, Wash.
$43,743
Purpose: To complete a feasibility study for a small forest landowner cooperative
to determine customer interest in this venture, analyze and determine appropriate
structure, markets and marketing strategy for locally produced wood products.

Appellation Yakima Valley, Prosser, Wash.
$21,616
Purpose: To complete a marketing and business plan to raise awareness and
demand for wine products.

Western Washington Agricultural, Mount Vernon, Wash.
$117,700
Purpose: To hire a food marketing consultant to identify, describe and define
business opportunities for grass fed beef and lamb.

American Produce Express, LLC, Omak, Wash.
$50,000
Purpose: To expand and create market opportunities for lower, presently
unprofitable grades of tree fruit through the expansion of markets for individual
servings sized, sliced and packaged apples and pears.

Valley Pride Sales, Inc., Mount Vernon, Wash.
$59,000
Purpose: To conduct an economic feasibility study for converting an agriculture
waste product, cull potatoes, into an emerging value-added biomasss market.

Sterett Bros. Hay, LLC, Davenport, Wash.
$145,000
Purpose: For working capital to operate a grass hay pelleting mill in
Lincoln County, Washington.

Taylor Shellfish Co., Inc., Shelton, Wash.
$300,000
Purpose: For working capital to cover initial marketing costs associated with the
launch of two value-added oyster products in Mexico and China.

Wilcox Farms, Inc., Roy, Wash.
$90,020
Purpose: To expand their market for Dino and Omega 3 eggs in the western
United States.

Wisconsin - $899,912

Alto Dairy Cooperative, Waupun, Wis.
$150,000
Purpose: For working capital to support operations to separate protein from
milk to produce neutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals.

Rainbow Farmers Cooperative, Milwaukee, Wis.
$150,000
Purpose: To develop a business-marketing plan to support the innovative
value-added venture, “A Taste of the Rainbow” that works with socially
disadvantaged and limited resource producers by providing an alternative outlet
for fresh and health food to urban and rural markets.

Westby Cooperative Creamery, Westby, Wis.
$37,200
Purpose: To analyze new product development and new market niches for up
to nine new dairy products.

Organic Choice Coop, Thorp, Wis.
$50,000
Purpose: To conduct a feasibility study of pooling and marketing raw certified
organic milk to processing plants and to develop the group’s own line of organic
dairy products.

Western Wisconsin Renewable Energy, Colfax, Wis.
$65,000
Purpose: To obtain legal advice and assistance related to the development of a
30-40 million gallon corn to ethanol processing facility.

Wisconsin Farmers Union Speciality, Chippewa Falls, Wis.
$75,000
Purpose: To purchase milk from Wisconsin dairy producers and to partially
finance the cheese making facility operations opening in Montfort, Wis.

Sustainable Woods Cooperative, Lone Rock, Wis.
$57,512
Purpose: For working capital to enhance and implement an innovative inventory
tracking system among small forestry cooperatives in Wisconsin, Minnesota,
Michigan and Iowa.

Partners In Forestry, Tomahawk, Wis.
$69,700
Purpose: To conduct a feasibility study for a Partners in Forestry Sustainable
Forestry Certification program which will lead to identifying raw product
supplies and sales of the to niche markets for manufacturing, and to determine
the feasibility of biomass energy to power small electric generating plants
using wood residue.

Chippewa Valley Cheese Corporation, Osseo, Wis.
$245,500
Purpose: To expand markets by establishing relations with major distributors
for bringing certified cheese to larger and higher-priced markets predominately
on the East and West Coast.

Wyoming - $90,000

Platte Valley Wyo-Braska Beet Growers, Wy.
$90,000
Purpose: To conduct a feasibility study for beet producers for the purchase of a
sugar plant and to develop new marketing ventures.

     USDA Rural Development serves as the lead federal entity for rural development needs and administers financial and technical assistance through three agencies: Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service and Rural Utilities Service. Further information on USDA Rural Development can be obtained by contacting any USDA Service Center or by visiting USDA's web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/.

#

USDA Rural Development is an Equal Opportunity Lender, Provider, and Employer. Complaints of
discrimination should be sent to: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410

Return to Rural Development News and Information Room.