ST..PAUL, Minn. – Federal infrastrastrucure grants totaling $3.2 million have been awarded food-supply operations in southeast Minnesota in Albert Lea, Caledonia and Rushford:
> Sno Pac Foods. In Caledonia. $1.6 million for a new cold storage system for more efficient processing and storage.
> Green Acres Milling, In Albert Lea. $1.5 million for new cleaning and kilning equipment to for oat processing to help meet the growing market for non-GMO, and allergen-free oats.
> Featherstone Farm. In Rushford. $250,535 for warehouses and walk-in coolers to wash, dry and pack salad crops in returnable plastic containers.
The programs are being administered by the state Agriculture Department with funds from the Biden administration’s Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program. The goal: To diversify agricultural markets and to create revenue streams for small and mid-sized producers.