VAAFM: Dairy Co-Packing Grant | Vermont Business Magazine

Submitted by tim on Mon, 03/31/2025 - 13:37

Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets This grant supports licensed dairy processors and brands aiming to start new co-packing ventures or expand existing ones by scaling production, diversifying product lines, or forming new partnerships.

Dairy brands currently using or planning to use co-packing services can also apply, provided their projects focus on scaling or initiating production through co-packing.

Grant funds may be used for purchasing specialized equipment, hiring marketing and branding services, enhancing food safety, and covering contract fees for new co-packing relationships.

Awards will range from $15,000 to $150,000, requiring a 25% in-kind or cash match. Approximately $1,100,000 is available this round.

Applications close Thursday, April 10th at 2pm EST.

Learn more

Dairy Farm Summer Camps

Have you been thinking about opening your dairy farm to more visitors? Maybe you already have school groups that visit but want to consider running a summer camp. The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets has a new tool that can help you explore if running a dairy farm summer camp is the right move for your farm.

Check out “A Guide for Dairy Farm Summer Camp: Connecting Cows, Children, and Community in Vermont" if you are interested in starting or expanding a summer camp on your farm.

Get the guide

Dairy Food Safety & Certification Grant

This grant provides funds for dairy farmers, processors, dairy brands, and/or producer associations to take actionable steps to improve the safety of dairy products and improve dairy farm biosecurity. Projects funded through this program will support increased production safety standards with the goal of accessing new markets.

Awards will range from $10,000 to $75,000 with a 25% in-kind and/or cash match contribution. Approximately $525,000 in total funds are available.

Apply by April 24th

Opportunity for Craft Beverage Makers

Food Export, in collaboration with its New England member states, is organizing a pavilion showcasing craft beverage producers at the upcoming Bar Convent London Show.

A limited number of craft beer, cider, and low/no-alcohol beverage makers will have the opportunity to have their products displayed and sampled. This is a unique, relatively low input opportunity to get your products into a market that is primed for the quality craft beverages for which Vermont is known.

Questions can be directed to Kim Hamilton at [email protected] or (312) 334-9228.

Apply by April 8th

Join the Vermont Pavilion at the Summer Fancy Food Show

Calling all Vermont specialty foods businesses! The Vermont Agency of Agriculture and Vermont Specialty Foods Association invite you to exhibit in a Vermont Pavilion at the 2025 Summer Fancy Food Show, taking place in New York City from June 29th to July 1st.

The Summer Fancy Food Show is one of the premier business-to-business trade shows for specialty food products. Buyers, distributors, and wholesalers from all over the world attend the show each year.

We have up to twenty 10' x 10' booths available within the Vermont Pavilion, with options for larger booths as well. Booth costs are $47 per square foot.

Learn more & reserve your spot

Upcoming Dates and Deadlines

April
4/10 - Dairy Co-packing Grant deadline
4/10 - Farm to School and Early Childhood Vision Grant deadline
4/24 - Dairy Food Safety & Certification Grant deadline

May
5/8 - Dairy Marketing & Branding Services Grant deadline

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