Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) on Monday announced it has partnered with Minnesota to award $9.5 million through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI), to build resilience across the middle of the supply chain and strengthen local and regional food systems.

Through this program, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) will fund 11 infrastructure grant projects to support middle of the supply chain infrastructure, including one project in Albert Lea.

The project in Albert Lea includes $1.5 million for Green Acres Milling, which will be constructing a new oat milling facility on the south end of town.

According to a press release, the company will  purchase cleaning and kilning equipment systems for the milling facility that will enhance the local food system and support rural development by filling a middle-of-the supply-chain gap for oat processing infrastructure. Green Acres Milling will work with over 100 local farmers within a 120-mile radius known as the “Oat-Shed” to source oats, offering them a reliable market with fair pricing, enabling production of an estimated 364,800 cwt of high-quality oat groats yearly, and meeting growing consumer demand for traceable, non-GMO and allergen-free oats.

“Projects funded through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program are building strength and resilience in Minnesota’s food system, diversifying agricultural markets, creating new revenue streams for small and mid-sized producers, and providing economic opportunities for local communities,” said USDA Marketing and Regulatory Programs Under Secretary Jenny Lester Moffitt. “USDA is grateful for Minnesota’s support strengthening local and regional agricultural supply chains.”

The Infrastructure Grants are part of a program that will fund projects that expand capacity and infrastructure for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transportation, wholesaling or distribution of locally and regionally produced agricultural products. Funding for the RFSI Program is authorized by President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan.

“We thank the USDA for the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program which benefits Minnesota businesses, farmers, and consumers by investing in the middle of the food supply chain in our state,” said Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. “These grants highlight the diversity of Minnesota’s food and ag sector, as the funding will benefit a wide range of industries, locations, and sizes of organizations and businesses.”

In addition to the grant awards, free technical assistance is available to producers, businesses, cooperatives and other organizations that are part of the middle of the food supply chain in Minnesota through the RFSI Program. Assistance will be available until spring 2027.

Technical assistance services are focused on:

• Supply chain coordination
• Food business development
• Market development services for local and regional food products
• Consultation on grant applications and grant administration guidance

For more information, visit the MDA’s RFSI Program webpage.