NEWS RELEASE

							                                             NEWS RELEASE
                                     United States Department of Agriculture - Rural Development
                                     World Wide Web: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                               Contact: Anita Rios Moore (802) 828-6006

           Vermont Agricultural Producers Selected for Business Development Assistance

     Cheese, Wine, and Vegetable Producer Businesses Will Expand Markets for their Products

       MONTPELIER, VT, June 7, 2010 –

        Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA has selected recipients in 45 states and Puerto
Rico, including four Vermont agricultural producers, to receive business development assistance and pursue
marketing opportunities for agricultural commodities. Funding is made available through USDA Rural
Development assistance under the Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program, which was authorized in the
2008 Farm Bill.

    “These grants provide the capital resources necessary for agribusiness growth and job creation in Vermont,”
said Molly Lambert, USDA Rural Development State Director. “Through these investments USDA is
strengthening the economic foundation of rural Vermont.”

    Artesano Mead, owned and operated by Mark Simakaski and Nichole Wolfgang, will use a $49,846 grant
for working capital to shift their small batch production of hand crafted meads from local Vermont honey and
fruit to a larger scale production of a high quality and consistent wine or mead. This expansion will add up to
three new jobs in the rural community of Groton. It will also make the community a ‘destination’ and a stop
along the Vermont Wine Trail.

    In East Montpelier, VT, Joseph Buley, Jr., owner of the Screamin’ Ridge Farm plans to use his $31,220
grant for economic planning activities—conducting a feasibility study, establishing a business plan for
acquisition of a local restaurant or commercial kitchen to process their organic and biodynamic produce. The
commercial kitchen will enable Buley, a restaurant chef of 20 plus years, to expand distribution of the farm’s
value-added products of soups, marinara sauces, and pesto to restaurants and other direct retail markets.

   Also receiving grants are:
       Cellars Carbon Labeling Company, LLC                      Greensboro, VT         $92,232
          Conduct a feasibility study of adding value through a carbon footprint label and develop a business
          plan for cave-aged cheese for seven independent producers.

           William Shur & Andrea Scott dba Champlain Orchards Shoreham, VT             $146,959
            Working capital to expand the value-added processing and marketing of the Orchard’s apples,
            peaches, small fruit and vegetable.

The Value-Added Producer Grants program funds may be used for feasibility studies or business plans, working
capital for marketing value-added agricultural products and for farm-based renewable energy projects. Eligible
applicants include independent producers, farmer and rancher cooperatives, and agricultural producer groups.
Value-added products are created when a producer increases the consumer value of an agricultural commodity
in the production or processing stage. Projects will improve needed infrastructure, enhance public safety, and
create economic opportunity. All VAPG recipients provide a one-to-one cash or in-kind match to their grants.

   Funding of individual recipients is contingent upon their meeting the conditions of the grant agreement.

    USDA Rural Development administers and manages more than 40 housing, business, and community
infrastructure and facilities programs. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural
communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America. For
more information about the USDA Rural Development Value Added Producer Grant program contact Sherry
Paige at (802)828-6034 or visit us on the web at www.rurdev.usda.gov/vt.

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