Breadtree Farms Receives Funding Through USDA for Largest in NY Chestnut Facility
By Ashleigh Morris
GREENWICH - On March 14, 2024 the USDA fully funded “Expanding the Market for Organic Chestnuts in the Northeast U.S.”, a collaboration between Breadtree Farms and a national coalition of partners to support the growth of the organic chestnut industry in the Northeast U.S.
The USDA funding awarded the group $1,957,328.00. An $819,837.00 match is expected. According to the project application, Breadtree Farms was founded in 2019 with a mission to build the organic chestnut industry to a watershed scale in the Northeast. This project will increase organic chestnut consumption by unlocking key gaps bottlenecks that currently constrain the growth of the Northeast organic chestnut industry.
Expanding the Market for Organic Chestnuts in the Northeast U.S.” will develop market pathways and infrastructure to reduce barriers-to-entry for current and aspiring organic chestnut farmers in the Northeast. We believe this project can create transformative opportunities for the region, and provide important resources for organic chestnut producers all over the country. Over the next 3 years, the project will include technical support for current and aspiring farmers, a global study of best practices for chestnut processing and facility design, building a new organic chestnut processing facility to serve Northeast growers and increasing culinary development and outreach.
The project will allow the purchase and instalaltion of specialized processing, handling, storage, and distribution equipment. Also, conducting outreach at buyer-engagement events, regional local food events festivals markets, product demonstration days targeted at handlers, organic CPGs, food advocacy marketing professionals-Increase regional producer coordination best practices through technical workshops, farm consultation visits, webinars, focused on best practices for product consistency, marketing, post-harvest processing coordination.
This project is all about building collaboration and connection across our growing industry. Breadtree Farms is seeking to engage with current chestnut farmers who are looking to expand, or seeking paths to process and sell their produce, any farmers or agroforesters who are curious about growing chestnuts, and “anyone we’re missing who would like to support the growth of a regenerative tree crops industry in the Northeast.”
For more about Breadtree Farms visit their website at https://breadtreefarms.com/