2 in Berks receive grants to strengthen agricultural industry

Two agriculture operations in Berks County will receive federal grant funding to increase capacity and drive growth.

Gov. Josh Shapiro announced Friday that Clover Farms Dairy in Muhlenberg Township and Keim Orchard in Douglass Township are among 77 farms and food manufacturers to receive more than $21 million in investment to strengthen Pennsylvania’s food supply chain.

“Pennsylvania is investing to feed our future through a stronger local supply chain, which means healthier communities, thriving businesses, more job opportunities and more resilience in challenging times,” said state Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding.

The funding comes through Pennsylvania’s Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program — a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The program provides dollar-for-dollar matching grants to support food processing, distribution and aggregation from multiple farms to help meet demand for fresh food.

Clover Farms Dairy will receive $500,000 to expand refrigeration and product development to grow milk processing capacity and source from more than 10 dairy producers.

Keim Orchard will receive $48,745 to upgrade fruit packing equipment with stainless steel machinery to improve efficiency, meet food safety certifications and expand its reach into schools, food banks and distributors.

Source: Berkshire mont