Pennsylvania Ag Secretary Tours Family-Owned Vineyard and Winery to Announce $224,000 Investment to Increase Sales and Exports of Pennsylvania Agricultural Products

The Shapiro Administration announced an investment of $224,190 in Agriculture Promotion Grants to support projects aimed at increasing domestic sales or exports of Pennsylvania agricultural products. Agriculture Secretary Redding made the announcement at Waltz Estate Winery and Family Farm, a sixth-generation family business that will be featured during Pennsylvania Wine Association's PA Wine Fall Harvest Celebration, one of the projects supported by the grants.

One of many PA Farm Bill-funded initiatives to grow Pennsylvania agriculture, the grants will reimburse nonprofits up to 50% of costs for projects educating consumers, promoting specific agriculture sectors, growing the consumer base for Pennsylvania products, or promoting regional agriculture-based tourism.

"Pennsylvania families produce the quality food and drinks that bring families around the world to the table, and not only that, the table and the fine hardwood it's made of," Secretary Redding said of two leading ag sectors supported in this year's grants. "Pennsylvania's wine industry has grown from William Penn's vines in colonial Philadelphia into the nation's fourth-ranking wine producer. And from its beginning as Penn's Woods, we have grown to be the nation's number one hardwood exporter, driven by the excellence of family-run businesses. Shapiro Administration investments are at work supporting every aspect of Pennsylvania family businesses like Waltz Vineyards - from innovation and planning to production and promotion. These investments will help keep Pennsylvania family businesses thriving and Pennsylvania agriculture a national leader for years to come."