The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) is pleased to announce awards for 12 projects through 2022 Dairy Food Safety & Certification Grant, for a total of $290,540.09. This program helps dairy farmers, processors, and/or producer associations take actionable steps to improve the safety of dairy products and improve marketability.
The projects that are being supported through this program support increased production safety standards with the goal of accessing new markets. The funds allow eligible entities to access support through technical assistance, audits, food safety plan development, training, testing fees, and certain infrastructure upgrades.
Projects Underway:
- Balfour Farm |Pittsfield, Maine| is engaging with a contractor to develop a comprehensive food safety plan and will perform necessary food safety testing related to the expansion of their creamery.
- Berle Farm |Hoosick Falls, New York| is pursuing their Interstate Milk Shippers license to expand market opportunities out of state.
- Fredrikson Farm |China, Maine| is using funds to purchase a closed batch pasteurizer and receive additional food safety certification to aid in the transition to the new pasteurization process.
- Green Mountain Dairy Farm |Sheldon, Vermont| will be purchasing equipment to assist with chilling their milk and loading the milk directly to the hauling truck.
- Haven Farmstead |New Tripoli, Pennsylvania| is working with food safety consultants on the development and implementation of an updated food safety plan, specifically towards meeting standards for third-party audit requirements.
- Kendall’s Dairy |Perham, Maine| will be installing funds to purchase supplies needed to install a milk pipeline which will increase food safety, milk quality, and production efficiencies.
- Pleasant Lane Farm Creamery |Latrobe, Pennsylvania| to implement environmental monitoring best practices and expand access to end-product testing to co-packaging partners.
- Sweet Rowen Farmstead |W. Glover, Vermont| will replace their malfunctioning bottler, which will lead to more consistent fill levels, longer shelf-life, and improved working conditions.
- Upstate Niagara Cooperative |Lancaster, New York| will be providing critical training in food safety to Upstate Niagara Cooperative employees, and employees from local, small-scall processors.
- Winter Hill Farm |Freeport, Maine| will be updating and implementing their food safety plan, as well as prepare their team and space for third-party audit requirements.
- Yellow Birch Farm |Deer Isle, Maine| will increase food safety by installing a vat pasteurizer, in turn increasing production capacity, labor efficiency, and potential market reach.
This grant opportunity is expected to be offered again in Fall of 2022.