The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is pleased to announce recipients of the second round of funding for the Arkansas Grown Grant for Northwest Arkansas Farmers Pilot Program. This program, created with support from the Walton Family Foundation’s Northwest Arkansas Food Systems Initiative, offers grant funding to eligible farmers in Benton, Washington, Madison, and Carroll counties who are committed to increasing capacity for wholesale fruit and vegetable production. The overall goal of the pilot program is to increase the amount of locally produced food in the four-county area.
“This pilot program provides funding directly to farmers to improve their operations and increase availability of fresh, locally grown food for consumers,” said Wes Ward, Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture. “The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is honored to assist in the administration of this grant program and looks forward to seeing its positive impacts.”
Grants were awarded for eligible expenses to eight farming operations in the four-county pilot program area, in addition to the 25 farms awarded in the first round of funding last year. Recipients for the Arkansas Grown Grant for Northwest Arkansas Farmers Pilot Program, Round Two are:
- Kings River Produce
- Honest Dirt Market Garden
- Hanna Family Ranch
- Gaia’s Garden Farmstead
- Bear Valley Farm
- Reagan Family Farm
- PrairieWoods Farms
- Dripping Springs Garden
For more information about the pilot program, contact Karen Reynolds by email at karen.reynolds@agriculture.arkansas.gov, or by phone at (501) 529-1630.
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is dedicated to the development and implementation of policies and programs for Arkansas agriculture, forestry, and natural resources to keep its farmers and ranchers competitive in national and international markets while conserving natural resources and ensuring safe food, fiber, and forest products for the citizens of the state and nation. Visit agriculture.arkansas.gov/. The Arkansas Department of Agriculture offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
