EASTON, Md. July 15, 2010 – Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today announced investments to support an Easton, Md. based firm, Shore Gourmet Food Business Center, to enhance the growth and diversification of regional, value-added food products. Merrigan was joined by Maryland and Delaware Rural Development State Director Jack Tarburton.
"USDA is committed to strengthening local and regional food systems to help keep wealth in rural America and help farmers to grow their operations," said Deputy Secretary Merrigan. "By connecting local food producers to their consumer, we are supporting regional economies and revitalizing rural communities simultaneously."
This announcement comes as part of USDA's ' Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' initiative, which seeks to create new economic opportunities, to promote local and regional food systems that help keep wealth in rural communities, and to encourage a national conversation about what we eat and where it comes from in order to benefit producers of all sizes.
Deputy Secretary Merrigan announced the $140,000 in funding to Shore Gourmet to help with start-up and operational costs, including marketing materials, product development and other activities to raise local food awareness and promote agriculture on Maryland's Eastern Shore region. The funding comes from USDA's Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program (RBEG), which provides grants for projects that facilitate the development of small and emerging rural businesses. Shore Gourmet, an enterprise of Mid-Shore Regional Council, was selected to receive two RBEGs: $100,000 in FY 2009 and $40,000 in FY 2010. The Mid-Shore Regional Council (MSRC) assists with economic and business
development in the three mid-shore counties of Caroline, Talbot and Dorchester. The goal of this project is to sustain the rural heritage of the region by maintaining a viable food business sector.
In order to establish a strong food business network, the Shore Gourmet Food Business Center plans to collaborate with individual producers and business service providers alike. This strategy will take advantage of existing resources to advance local product development, marketing, and distribution.
USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages more than 40 housing, business and community infrastructure and facility programs through a national network of 6,100 employees located in the nation's capital and 500 state and local offices. 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. Rural Development has an existing portfolio of nearly $140 billion in loans and loan guarantees.
