Good things are happening in the farming business in our community, but you’d be forgiven if you were unaware of a few of the smaller operations that are working hard every day to bring us fresh produce for our tables.
Three of those small farms were recently awarded some hefty grants to expand operations, and we thought you’d like to know about them.
AgWest Farm Credit is an agricultural lending cooperative, serving producers an agribusinesses throughout the west. Their New Producer Grant helps producers start or grow an operation, access educational support, and build connections with other producers. In 2023, AgWest Farm Credit awarded 30 motivated individuals with grants to help them pursue their dreams, including three in Sequim and Port Angeles.
Those winners are Flora Farm, a medicinal herb farm and herbal apothecary in Port Angeles, Tampopo Farm, a 2-acre farm growing veggies and flowers in Sequim, and Hope Rising Microgreens of Port Angeles. We spoke with Denice Gustafson, co-owner of Hope Rising Microgreens, who was recently awarded $15,000. She said over 450 people applied for these grants, so she was shocked when she heard the news.
Read more at myclallamcounty.com