Governor Shapiro, Little Leaf Farms Announce Grand Opening of Pennsylvania’s Largest Indoor-Grown Leafy Greens Production Facility in Carbon County Governor Josh Shapiro joined Little Leaf Farms to announce the grand opening of the Commonwealth’s largest indoor-grown leafy greens production facility in McAdoo this fall. As part of its expansion, Little Leaf Farms – which produces packaged lettuce sustainably grown through controlled environment agriculture – will grow its presence in Carbon County and open its second facility in Pennsylvania.
Little Leaf Farms already owns 180 acres in McAdoo and opened its first 10-acre greenhouse in July 2022. The additional capacity of 10 acres in its expansion will allow Little Leaf Farms to increase its retail presence to nearly 5,000 grocery stores, making its fresh greens available at most major retailers from the Midwest to the Southeast, and employ nearly 170 Pennsylvania workers by the end of 2023. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has supported this growth with $3.5 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grants.RecapSee More
Shapiro Administration Convenes New Food Policy Council To Coordinate Strategic Solutions To Increase Food Security And Access The Shapiro Administration held the first meeting of the PA Food Policy Council, to evaluate and implement strategic, commonsense solutions to critical challenges facing Pennsylvania’s food system. The council, comprised of heads of eight state agencies and leaders 16 private-sector organizations, brings diverse expertise and perspectives from across the state together to work collaboratively to improve food and nutrition security, public health, environmental sustainability, local food systems, and to reduce food waste.Read More
Shapiro Administration Awards $1 Million To Projects To Educate And Engage Youth And Adults In Improving The Environment In Their Communities The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) awarded over $1 million in Environmental Education Grants to 73 projects that will engage youth and adults in improving water quality and climate change resiliency in their communities. Fifty-five projects will serve environmental justice communities.Read More
Governor Shapiro Highlights Universal Free Breakfast Proposal for Pennsylvania Students in Visit to Montgomery County Elementary School The Governor’s budget proposes a $38.5 million increase to provide universal free breakfast for 1.7 million Pennsylvania kids and extends the Free School Breakfast Program that has served more than 23 million students since its creation Governor Josh Shapiro and Acting Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin highlighted the importance of providing free and nutritious breakfast to Pennsylvania students in a visit to Colonial Elementary School in Montgomery County. Governor Shapiro’s first budget proposes $38.5 million to provide universal free breakfast to all Pennsylvania students – regardless of income – through the Free School Breakfast Program and to cover the cost of lunch for 22,000 school students whose families earn less than 185 percent of the federal poverty level. Since its implementation, the program has served more than 23 million breakfaststo students across the Commonwealth.See More
The Allegheny Hardwood Utilization Group (AHUG) held their annual dinner in Kersey, PA. During the evening, Secretary Redding discussed the commitment of the Department of Agriculture to the hardwood sector and its importance to the state’s economy.See More
Beef Your Way Through PA! It’s June and you know what that means? Summer grilling is underway and while we still encourage you to fire up your grill, we also invite you to get out and support local restaurants throughout Pennsylvania. The Beef Your Way Through PA passport, funded by Pennsylvania beef producers through the Beef Checkoff, features over 35 Pennsylvania restaurants across the state that serve outstanding beef. The free beef passport program urges participants to visit the featured locations through September 4, 2023, where they can order beef menu items and earn points towards prizes by checking in via the app. Participants with at least one stamp/check-in will be eligible for the grand prize of a Pit Boss Grill. The program is designed to highlight Pennsylvania’s beef industry while helping to support local restaurants and drive beef demand throughout the state in an easy, mobile-friendly way.Learn More
Prevent Spotted Lanternfly From Spreading: A Checklist for Travelers This invasive and destructive pest threatens Pennsylvania’s agricultural commodities and trade, has a healthy appetite for our plants, and can be a significant nuisance to our quality of life and enjoyment of the outdoors. Use this checklist to help stop the invasion!Checklist
JumpStart – Investing In Your SuccessTake the First Step and Apply to Win $10,000 Are you looking for grant funds to start or grow your farming business? Horizon Farm Credit is hosting the second annual JumpStart grant program for beginning farmers. The JumpStart grant program is an annual grant designed to support the growth of the next generation of farmers and facilitate their entry into farming. Applying is as easy as submitting your Business Plan, completing our free Ag Biz Basics course and submitting your application! Applications will be accepted until July 31, 2023 at 4 pm EST.Learn More
Governor Shapiro, Little Leaf Farms Announce Grand Opening of Pennsylvania’s Largest Indoor-Grown Leafy Greens Production Facility in Carbon County Governor Josh Shapiro joined Little Leaf Farms to announce the grand opening of the Commonwealth’s largest indoor-grown leafy greens production facility in McAdoo this fall. As part of its expansion, Little Leaf Farms – which produces packaged lettuce sustainably grown through controlled environment agriculture – will grow its presence in Carbon County and open its second facility in Pennsylvania.
Shapiro Administration Convenes New Food Policy Council To Coordinate Strategic Solutions To Increase Food Security And Access The Shapiro Administration held the first meeting of the PA Food Policy Council, to evaluate and implement strategic, commonsense solutions to critical challenges facing Pennsylvania’s food system. The council, comprised of heads of eight state agencies and leaders 16 private-sector organizations, brings diverse expertise and perspectives from across the state together to work collaboratively to improve food and nutrition security, public health, environmental sustainability, local food systems, and to reduce food waste.Read More
Governor Shapiro Highlights Universal Free Breakfast Proposal for Pennsylvania Students in Visit to Montgomery County Elementary School The Governor’s budget proposes a $38.5 million increase to provide universal free breakfast for 1.7 million Pennsylvania kids and extends the Free School Breakfast Program that has served more than 23 million students since its creation Governor Josh Shapiro and Acting Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin highlighted the importance of providing free and nutritious breakfast to Pennsylvania students in a visit to Colonial Elementary School in Montgomery County. Governor Shapiro’s first budget proposes $38.5 million to provide universal free breakfast to all Pennsylvania students – regardless of income – through the Free School Breakfast Program and to cover the cost of lunch for 22,000 school students whose families earn less than 185 percent of the federal poverty level. Since its implementation, the program has served more than 23 million breakfasts to students across the Commonwealth.See More
The Allegheny Hardwood Utilization Group (AHUG) held their annual dinner in Kersey, PA. During the evening, Secretary Redding discussed the commitment of the Department of Agriculture to the hardwood sector and its importance to the state’s economy.See More
Beef Your Way Through PA! It’s June and you know what that means? Summer grilling is underway and while we still encourage you to fire up your grill, we also invite you to get out and support local restaurants throughout Pennsylvania. The Beef Your Way Through PA passport, funded by Pennsylvania beef producers through the Beef Checkoff, features over 35 Pennsylvania restaurants across the state that serve outstanding beef. The free beef passport program urges participants to visit the featured locations through September 4, 2023, where they can order beef menu items and earn points towards prizes by checking in via the app. Participants with at least one stamp/check-in will be eligible for the grand prize of a Pit Boss Grill. The program is designed to highlight Pennsylvania’s beef industry while helping to support local restaurants and drive beef demand throughout the state in an easy, mobile-friendly way.Learn More
Prevent Spotted Lanternfly From Spreading: A Checklist for Travelers This invasive and destructive pest threatens Pennsylvania’s agricultural commodities and trade, has a healthy appetite for our plants, and can be a significant nuisance to our quality of life and enjoyment of the outdoors. Use this checklist to help stop the invasion!Checklist