We are excited to report that Farmhand Foods has been awarded a Phase I grant from the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program sponsored by the US Department of Agriculture. SBIR grants are provided by several federal agencies to stimulate technological innovations in the private sector, including strengthening the role that women-owned (and socially and economically disadvantaged) small businesses play in commercializing products and services that lead to significant public benefit.  In this instance, USDA seeks to support the development of business solutions that provide market opportunities for small and mid-scale farmers.  We intend to use these funds to support innovation in two key areas: 1) producer engagement strategies that strengthen local market opportunities for North Carolina’s pasture-based livestock producers, and 2) marketing strategies that enhance whole-animal utilization across different market channels. Through a sub-award to the Department of Animal Science at NC State University, we will be working with Dr. Matt Poore (Beef Unit Coordinator with the Center for Environmental Farming Systems) to evaluate the nutritional attributes of pasture-raised beef. We are particularly grateful for grant support at this stage of Farmhand Foods’ development as we tackle scaling to achieve sustainability.  Stay tuned for lessons learned!
