South Carolina Awarded $4.1 Million to Bolster Local Food Systems

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service has partnered with the South Carolina Department of Agriculture to grant $4.1 million for 26 projects aimed at strengthening local and regional food systems across the state. The funding, provided through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Program, will support four infrastructure projects and 22 equipment-focused initiatives designed to build resilience in the middle of the supply chain.

South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers emphasized the importance of a diversified food supply chain and the role of local agribusinesses. He stated that these RFSI grants will empower South Carolina businesses to collaborate, access new markets, expand their operations, and contribute to a more adaptable food system.

The grants will facilitate the expansion of capacity for various aspects of the local and regional food supply chain. This includes aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, and distribution of locally and regionally produced food products. The supported products encompass specialty crops, dairy, grains and other row crops for human consumption, aquaculture, and other food items, with the exception of meat, poultry, and wild-caught seafood.

Several specific projects receiving funding include:

• The Catawba Farm and Food Coalition will receive support to enhance their ongoing efforts in rural areas of the Upstate and Piedmont regions. This will involve expanding cold storage facilities and acquiring delivery vehicles to improve the processing, aggregation, and distribution of local products and value-added items through collaborations with producers.
• The RobinHood Group in Union, South Carolina, will use grant funds to establish a commercial kitchen. This initiative aims to address the current lack of adequate kitchen facilities and equipment for processing local food and creating value-added products, thereby enabling producers to diversify their offerings and access new market opportunities.
• Ridgeville Okra Company in Dorchester County will partner with local producers to expand their product distribution into new markets throughout the state. The grant will support the acquisition of a refrigerated delivery vehicle, ensuring efficiency and maintaining freshness along the supply chain.
• Old Tyme Bean Co. will address supply chain challenges related to storage and processing capacity by investing in processing equipment and cold storage. This will ultimately assist local farmers in the Midlands region in bringing their crops to market through efficient and sustainable processing operations.

Further information about the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Program in South Carolina can be found here.