SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- On Monday, December the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service announced a partnership with the Indiana State Department of Agriculture to award $6,714,042 million for 17 projects through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program.

“Indiana farmers work hard to produce millions of pounds of fruits, vegetables and other pantry staples each year that are eventually shipped across state lines or do not even make it to market,” Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith, who is also Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development said.

The ISDA officials believe the grants will build resilience across the middle of the supply chain while strengthening local and regional food systems.

“This grant funding will ensure more Hoosiers are fed by Hoosiers and that these organizations can better serve their communities,” Beckwith said.

The two local companies getting the grants are Crystal Lake out of Kosciusko County and Clay Bottom Farm in Elkhart County.

According to grant documents, Crystal Lake will use the $1,235,908 grant for the installation of new equipment that will allow the farm to produce extended shelf-life egg products and additional hard cook packaging at their plant located in Kosciusko County. Rather than relying on co-packers located in other states, this project will create a local co-packer and pasteurizer option for Crystal Lake and other local egg producers.

Their website describes Crystal Lake as a high-quality food manufacturer with the "highest-quality egg products".

"We focus our unwavering attention on the best care for hens, on being responsible stewards of the land, and by always providing superior standards for product quality and food safety," the Crystal Lake website states. 

Clay Bottom Farm in Elkhart County will use it $65,000 of grant funding to purchase and utilize a delivery vehicle to aggregate and distribute 10,000 pounds of vegetables annually from four regional farms to three wholesale outlets.

With this vehicle, Clay Bottom Farm will be able to work with local growers in Elkhart Country to source from and introduce new produce to the market, increase demand for locally sourced food, and fill area gaps and unmet market demand," according to grant documents.

"Clay Bottom Farm's delivery vehicle will benefit a minimum of ten local farmers and producers," an ISDA official said. "This will enhance market opportunities for local farmers by creating jobs in the middle of the supply chain, ensuring the delivery van meets regulations, and increases the local food supply to various middle-of-the-supply chain outlets."

Additional 15 funded projects:

• Shop Kid LLC, (Marion County)
• Summer Solstice Farms, (Jefferson County)
• Produce Patch, LLC, (Daviess County)
• J.L. Hawkins Farm, (Wabash County)
• Beneker Family Farms, (Franklin County) 
• Mills Family Farms Pasture Raised Meats LLC, (Cass County) 
• Four Leaf Honey Farm (FLHF) (Wayne County)
• Soul Food Project (SFP) , (Marion County)
• Unvarnished Farm , (Jefferson County)
• Davis Family Farms, (Washington County)
• Families Anchored in Total Harmony, Inc. (FAITH CDC), (Lake County)
• HenABen Farm, (Ripley County)
• Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, (Marion County)
• Orange County Cooperative Development Corporation (Orange County)
• Slaughter Orchard and Cidery, (Monroe County) 

“These seventeen organizations already do so much for their communities, and we are grateful that alongside USDA we could support them even further,” said Don Lamb, Indiana State Department of Agriculture director. “This funding will ensure food grown in local communities stays in local communities and this will allow our Hoosier farmers to increase their capacity and continue to build their businesses.”

This round of awarded funding is part of the $420 million available through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Grant program to build capacity within the middle of the supply chain and support local and regional producers. It is funded by USDA Agricultural Marketing Service.

"Through this program, AMS has entered into cooperative agreements with state agencies, commissions, or departments responsible for agriculture, commercial food processing, seafood, or food system and distribution activities or commerce activities in states or U.S. territories," the ISDA said.