Grange Co-op Receives $1.5 Million Grant to Boost Organic Grain Feed Processing

White City, Oregon– Grange Cooperative Supply Association, known as Grange Co-op, headquartered in White City, has announced the company will receive a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). This recognition comes as part of the Organic Market Development Grant program, aimed at fortifying the nation’s organic industry by addressing critical needs.

The grant’s primary objective is to bolster processing capacity for organic grain feed, crucial for the burgeoning organic sector. Grange Co-op, a pivotal player in the agricultural cooperative landscape, intends to utilize this funding to significantly augment its processing capabilities. The endeavor is poised to cater to the mounting demand for organic grain feed, particularly within the livestock domain.

Neil Itzen, CEO of Grange Co-op, expressed elation at securing the grant, emphasizing its potential. “Grange Co-op is thrilled to receive this grant from USDA, which will allow us to expand our processing capacity and better serve the organic farming community,” stated Itzen. “This investment will enable us to meet the growing demand for organic grain feed and contribute to the development of a more resilient and sustainable food system.”

The project’s key objectives include expanding processing capacity to create more market opportunities for organic producers and executing robust marketing and promotional activities to bolster commercial markets for U.S. organic grain feed products.

The addition processing capacity is poised not only to assist organic producers in meeting market demands but also to diminish the United States’ reliance on imported organic grain feed. By channeling investments into infrastructure and marketing endeavors, Grange Co-op aims to bolster the domestic organic grain feed market, fostering a more sustainable agricultural landscape.

The organization also acknowledges Morrison for its invaluable assistance in grant writing, which played a pivotal role in securing this transformative funding.

Grange Co-op remarked that this grant not only represents a significant milestone, but also underscores the USDA’s commitment to fostering innovation and sustainability within the agricultural sector, paving the way for a more resilient and flourishing organic industry.