Erie, Fort Collins businesses receive Enrich Colorado Ag grants

BROOMFIELD — An agriculture consulting firm in Erie and a small farm in Fort Collins are among nine agribusinesses receiving grants through the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Enrich Colorado Ag Grant Program.

The grants, totaling $88,235, are intended to help Colorado companies conduct research and develop new uses and markets for food and agricultural products that are grown, raised or processed in Colorado.

Erie-based Brink Inc., led by Phil Brink, received $4,900 to study the economic viability of using pre-consumer food waste for use as livestock feed and/or composting operations.

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Garden Sweet, located about two miles north of Old Town Square in Fort Collins and headed by Amy Kafka and Ryan Wilson, received $7,330 for marketing support to increase sales, enhance direct-to-consumer access to Garden Sweet farm products and promote new products for the 2015 season.

Other Colorado companies receiving grants are:

Kettelson Family Farms, Wray, $12,610 for technical assistance with equipment to develop a means of harvesting and producing two new ornamental products.

Montezuma Orchard Restoration Project, Cortez, $7,500 to research the market potential and data collection of heritage apples grown in southwestern Colorado.

Community Agriculture Alliance, Steamboat Springs, $11,000 to market and promote local food/products available in the Yampa Valley by using the Community Ag Marketplace website in addition to the shared farmers’ market booth.

Four Corners Chapter, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, Cortez Evening Market, Cortez, $10,000 to market and promote the evening market to increase awareness and participation of vendors and consumers.

The Infinite Monkey Theorem Inc., Denver, $10,000 to the support the introduction of a dry-hopped pear cider to the adult beverage industry and bring awareness to the benefits of Colorado canned beverage products.

Two Brothers Organics Inc., Hotchkiss, $15,000 to assist in the development and promotion of an all-natural line of products in order to meet the current demand and provide the company the ability to source more Colorado ingredients.

Southwest Farm Fresh Cooperative, Cortez, $9,895 to advance the sales of local farm products from member-owners by using an established wholesale distribution method and soon to include retail online shopping access and distribution component.

The department received 30 applications requesting a total of $400,000.