FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Laura Zaks
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
lzaks@sustainableagriculture.net
Tel. 347.563.6408
Comment: NSAC Welcomes Further Investment in Regional Meat Processing By USDA
Washington, DC, June 29, 2023 – Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) issued the following comment, attributable to Connor Kippe, NSAC Policy Specialist, in response to an announcement of the “Biden-Harris Administration Partners with Agricultural Producers to Promote Competition, Strengthen Food Supply Chain and Rural Economies.”
“The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) welcomes a new round of investment in the local and regional meat processing industry. This investment, through its focus on regional lending, will bring new avenues of growth to rural and urban communities alike. It will provide much needed choice for farmers and ranchers through investments in fee for service options and independent processing across the US. The relending program grants will help establish a resilient lending infrastructure to continue to fund smaller projects, as processing capacities continue to evolve and change.
We acknowledge the need for focused investment to rebuild agriculture of the middle. We also look forward to continued investment in small and very small meat processing via the Local MCap program and the initiatives and reforms proposed in the Strengthening Local Processing Act.”
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About the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is a grassroots alliance that advocates for federal policy reform supporting the long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability of agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities. Learn more and get involved at: https://sustainableagriculture.net
Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis, recently cut state funding for a local meat processing facility (Alachua County) much to the chagrin of local small producers and supporters at the Board of County Commissioners. Shameful and harmful to local and regional supply chains. Over the top development is already making it difficult for ranchers and other small producers to survive.