Department of Agriculture State Director Bob Morgan announced that USDA is investing more than $32 million to help a diverse rural Pennsylvania keep resources and wealth right at home through job training, business expansion and technical assistance.

Local projects include:

• Reuben Demaster dba Willow Haven Farm in Lehigh County received a VAPG of $42,965 to hire a consulting firm to help prepare a market analysis, marketing plan, and business plan to promote its organic cut flowers and expand its Community Certified Agriculture program for its organic vegetables. This project is anticipated to increase the agricultural producer’s customer base by 300 and increase its revenue by approximately $18,000 over a 12-month period.

• Stryker Farm LLC in Monroe County received a VAPG of $250,000 to support the family-owned pig farm located in Saylorsburg. The funds will be utilized for processing, marketing and selling its various pork products through a new e-commerce website. These technological upgrades to the current website will expand retail sales through new features such as a local home delivery option, delivery date preferences, easier site navigation, and an expanded selection of meats. This project is anticipated to increase the agricultural producer’s customer base by 180 retail customers and increase its revenue by approximately $371,000 over a 26-month period.

• Red Hill Farms Inc. in Schuylkill County received a VAPG of $250,000 to be used as working capital to support the family-owned, eighth-generation commodity farm located in Pitman. This project is anticipated to increase the agricultural producer’s customer base by 1,500 and increase its revenue by approximately $2,020,000 over a three-year period.