Several Southwest Michigan food producers are getting a boost in the form of more than $400,000 in state grants to grow their operations.
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has awarded funding to six businesses in the region through its Underserved, Value Added and Regional Food System Grant Program.
Benton Harbor’s Carriage House Ciders will double production with a $36,000 grant and Old Europe Cheese, also in Benton Harbor, will us a $76,000 grant to launch new brie products.
Berry Delicious Farms and Coco and Catrina Farms in Covert are both getting major upgrades — new cold storage and a packing line expansion with grants of $100,000 and $99,000, respectively.
DeGrandchamp Blueberry Farms in South Haven will expand its direct to consumer sales with a $100,