What they're doing

Edlin Choi of Heart & Seoul Food Co. sources bones and fat from local farms and produces delicious Korean-style bone broth and animal-based cooking fats (tallow and lard).

What we love

This is a creative solution supporting whole-animal use and producing high quality products.

Interested in working with Heart & Seoul?

They're looking for a consistent supply of bones and fats to support their expansion.

Farmers -- Want to supply to Edlin? Contact him at edlin@heartandseoulfoodco.com.

Processors -- The company is looking to aggregate at the processor-level (USDA slaughterhouse) in order to reduce the logistical burden placed on farmers. Contact Edlin at edlin@heartandseoulfoodco.com.

How to support

Heart & Seoul is running a campaign with NuMarket.co to fund their mission. They'll give you 120% back in credits with your contribution! That means 120% back to use on their wholesome Korean-style bone broths and nutrient-rich cooking fats after the campaign ends. Contribute to the campaign.

Resources + Opportunities

Grants

If you’re interested in grant writing assistance please email Jake Levin at jake@berkshireagventures.org

Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG)

The Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program helps agricultural producers enter value-added activities to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities, and increase producer income.

Grant Amount: Planning Grants $75K; Working Capital Grants: $250K.

Deadlines: Electronic application due11:59pm EST on 4/11/24. Paper applications due by close of business 4/16/24.

Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Grant

Funds projects that build resilience across the middle-of-the-food-supply-chain. offered by MDAR.

Grant Amount: Infrastructure Grants: $500K. Simplified Equipment-Only $10K-100K.

Deadline: 4pm EST on 3/29/24

Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund

Small grant program that provides direct assistance to veterans who are in their beginning years of farming or ranching. The Fellowship Fund does not give money directly to the veteran, but rather to third-party vendors for items the veteran has identified will make a crucial difference in the launch of their farm business.

Grant Amount: $1K-5K

Deadline: 2/14/24

Courses

Western Meat School Business Accelerator

Online business accelerator in 2024 for scaling meat businesses and brands aiming to empower producers to scale up to mid-scale/regionally distributed branded meat model.

Cost: $1,500 ($500 returned to participant at end of program)

Deadline: 2/2/24

Partial scholarships are available for BIPOC and socially-disadvantaged producers

Next Level Marketing for Direct to Customer Operations

Designed for farm women to help develop management and decision-making skills for their farms. Understand how to use and manage Facebook ads effectively, how to choose/set up a Customer Relationship Management system, the economics of marketing your product/farm, how to use AI effectively, and more.

Cost: $60

Deadline: 2/5/24

E-Commerce Course

NMPAN and ChopLocal offering a course designed to help producers & small processors set up an ecommerce store for their meat. This course will cover everything from choosing a platform, determining which cuts to offer, writing effective copy for the online store, marketing, and shipping.

Cost: $297

Deadline: Rolling, sign up before 2/1/24 to save $200

Preventive Controls for Animal Food

In person in Carlisle, PA. Provides the qualifications for attendees to meet federal Food and Drug Administration requirements for development and implementation of a modern, preventive and risk-based food safety plan for animal food, per FSMA regulations. Hosted by Cumberland County Office of Penn State Extension. 

Cost: $475

Deadline: 2/20/24

Conferences

Feb 4 Southeast New England Agriculture Conference and Trade Show Dighton, MA hosted by SEMAP

Regional organizations are partnering to bring together farmers and food producers for a day of community and learning around some of the most pressing issues facing the food system.

Feb 14-15 Green Industry Winter Forum

Framingham, MA hosted by MNLA

Two-day program packed with education and networking related to our event theme, Climate Change Is NOT the Weather.

Feb 27 13th Annual Local Food Trade Show

Wayland, MA hosted by SBN

Bring together the best local food producers and buyers from across the state! Take advantage of this chance to showcase your finest local food products and explore new wholesale opportunities.

Mar 13 Northeast Harvest Agricultural Conference

Topsfield, MA

Mar 21-22 The 7th Massachusetts Farm & Sea to School Conference

Northampton, MA

Over 300 farm to school advocates from diverse backgrounds such as food service, education, food distribution, farms, and advocacy, to advance a strong and vibrant local food system. 

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to Ren Constas at ren@berkshiregrown.org. Next newsletter will be published in January.