Nearly $1.7 million has been allocated to 20 farm and food businesses across New York State to help them acquire equipment aimed at strengthening the middle of the state’s food supply chain. The funding comes from the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Grant Program, which supports processing, packing, aggregating, storing, and distributing food products grown or produced in New York.
According to New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball, “The ability to purchase critical new equipment will be a game changer for so many farm and food businesses and will allow them to get more fresh, local foods to New Yorkers. I congratulate all of the awardees and look forward to seeing the impact these projects have on our communities.”
Todd Erling, President and CEO of Farm and Food Growth Fund, added, “The strategic combination of both the infrastructure and equipment-only rounds of the RFSI program will greatly impact the State’s middle-of-the-supply chain, providing more market access opportunities for our dairy, fruit, and vegetable farmers, as well as value-added producers. By supporting processing and aggregation, we can also enhance distribution by moving food more efficiently and to wider markets and institutional purchasing.”
The grants were available to farms and food businesses in New York that focus on increasing the supply of locally sourced products in the marketplace. Awards were distributed among 20 entities in nine regions: Capital Region ($290,878), Central New York ($200,000), Finger Lakes ($284,000), Mid-Hudson ($139,502), Mohawk Valley ($99,640), New York City ($145,517), North Country ($198,000), Southern Tier ($100,000), and Western New York ($253,910). Recipients include Good Food Farmers Network LLC in the Capital Region; G & R D’Agostino Quality Produce Inc. in Central New York; Berryfield Bottling LLC (Red Jacket Orchards) in Finger Lakes; Dartagnan Farms Foundation in Mid-Hudson; George’s Farm Products Inc. in Mohawk Valley; Aunt Ethel’s Pot Pies in New York City; Overflow Creamery in North Country; Norwich Meadows Farm LLC in Southern Tier; Barrel + Brine Inc. in Western New York; among others.
Of the total $1.69 million awarded through this round of grants, $300,000 came from state funds while $1.39 million was provided federally.
Administration of these funds was managed by a partnership between the Department of Agriculture and Markets and Farm and Food Growth Fund (FFGF). Technical assistance was also offered by Tierra Viva Collective for applicants who speak Spanish, Arabic or Mandarin.
The RFSI Grant Program was first introduced in May 2024 with over $14.7 million available through two types of grants: Infrastructure Grants and Equipment-Only Grants. In June 2024 Governor Kathy Hochul announced that 19 organizations received a combined $13.7 million through Infrastructure Grants under this program.
New York continues its efforts to increase access to local foods through initiatives such as Nourish New York and other programs funded by the state’s FY 2026 Budget—including support for farmers’ markets nutrition programs and urban agriculture grants—and is working toward sourcing at least 30 percent of state agency food purchases from local producers within five years per Executive Order 32.
Governor Hochul has also pledged $25 million for research development grants supporting innovative products using ingredients grown or produced within New York.
Farm and Food Growth Fund aims to foster economic growth by providing employment opportunities along with safe housing options for low- to moderate-income individuals throughout parts of the Northeast Foodshed region via technical assistance services and increased capital flow.
