Secretary of Agriculture visits Lancaster farms

Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding recently visited two Lancaster County farms that supply a business that benefited from the Pennsylvania Dairy Investment Program.

Redding visited Sunset Farms in Ronks and Oak Shade Cheese in Kirkwood. The farms supply cheese to Philabundance, a nonprofit organization that received a $63,000 grant from the program this year. Philabundance markets the Abundantly Good cheese brand in the greater Philadelphia region.

Philabundance uses sale proceeds to purchase surplus milk from Lancaster County dairy farmers. The milk is used to produce cheese that is donated to Philabundance clients.

“The PA Dairy Innovation grant has allowed us to reach our goals of supporting local dairy farmers by driving sales to Abundantly Good products, and providing high-quality cheese to those in need,” Elizabeth Sanon, Philabundance manager of Food Acquisition, said. “By increasing visibility of the brand, reaching over 12,000 individuals, our brand has a triple bottom line impact on people, planet, and profit.”

The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in Pennsylvania dairy, Redding said.

Pennsylvania Dairy Investment Program grants support organic transition, research and development, on-farm innovation, and value-added processing of products like cheese, yogurt, and ice cream.

Applications for the second round of the program will close Nov. 15.