USDA and Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture Rick Pate Announce Award of $5.9 Million to Projects that Strengthen Food Supply Chain Infrastructure

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced it has partnered with Alabama to award $5.9 million for six projects through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) program to build resilience across the middle of the supply chain and strengthen local and regional food systems.

“Since the COVID-19 pandemic, prioritizing this project has been essential for Alabama. Before its official launch, I reached out to USDA to emphasize Alabama’s need for funding to strengthen our local food supply chain,” said Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate. “We’re proud to be one of the first states to gain approval for our state plan and announce sub-awards for the RFSI program. This initiative is a critical step forward in continuing to build Alabama’s food supply chain.

“Projects funded through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program are building strength and resilience in Alabama’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 Alabama’s support strengthening local and regional agricultural supply chains.”

Through this program, the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) will fund six Infrastructure Grants to support middle of the supply chain infrastructure.  

Examples of Funded Projects:

• The Alabama State Association of Cooperatives (ASAC) will partner with Tuskegee University Cooperative Extension (TUCE), a local aggregator (Deep South Food Alliance), and multiple grower cooperatives throughout the Alabama Black Belt counties to advance cold chain and processing infrastructure for produce.

• Miller Family Dairy will construct and equip a new dairy processing facility that will transform raw milk into fluid milks, creams, butter and cheeses. Dairies within a 100-mile radius will also utilize this aggregation hub to distribute their milk and dairy products efficiently.

• Anderson Farms will build a produce processing facility that will aggregate products from an additional 10 farms. The facility will also store and distribute seven new value-added products of fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables to supply local school systems.

This awarded funding is part of the $420 million available through the RFSI grant program to build capacity within the middle of the supply chain and support local and regional producers. 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.

For more information, visit the AMS Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure webpage. To learn more about the RFSI program in Alabama, please visit the Alabama RFSI Webpage or contact rfsip@agi.alabama.gov.