Duluth produce famers get federal grant

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The Duluth Market Gardeners and Berry Association has been awarded an $18,986 grant from the Department of Agriculture’s Office of Rural Development.

The Value-Added Producer Grant, announced Tuesday by U.S. Sens. Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar, will be used for a study of the feasibility of a formal farmers cooperative made up of the independent producers at the Duluth Farmers Market.

The grants are awarded to agricultural producers to help them develop businesses that can make and sell value-added products. Value-added products are created when a producer increases the consumer value of an agricultural commodity in the production or processing stage. For example, a farmer who turns strawberries into strawberry jam has created a value-added product.

“This support will help develop local markets and ensure that Duluth’s family farmers and producers can continue to grow their businesses well into the future,” Klobuchar said in a statement announcing the grant.

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