PORTLAND, MAINE — The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is awarding $600,000 in grants to three Maine meat and poultry processors, announced Congresswoman Chellie Pingree on Aug. 31. The grants represent three of the 111 grants issued through USDA’s Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness program.

“I consistently hear from Maine producers about the growing need for infrastructure to process their produce, dairy, meat and poultry locally,” Pingree said. “These federal grants help strengthen our food system and boost our food economy, and I’m thrilled to see the positive impact they have on Maine as these projects get underway.”

The following Maine companies received grants:

• Olde Haven Farm LLC (Chelsea, Maine): $200,000 for processing and storage facility expansion
• Fork Food Lab (Portland, Maine): $200,000 for developing meat processing capacity for wholesale distribution of Maine-made products
• Nest & Mullen LLC (Kennebunk, Maine): $200,000 to help the five-generation farm and butcher rebuild its meat processing plant that was destroyed in a September 2020 fire

“The Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grants will help meat and poultry processors make necessary facility improvements, expand their businesses and strengthen the nation’s food supply chain,” said Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. “These grants are one part of USDA’s Meat and Poultry Supply Chain initiatives and will contribute to our efforts to transform our food system.”