Lawrenceville Farm Receives $209K In Federal Funding

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ — The federal government is setting aside $209,000 in funding to expand operations at Cherry Grove Farm in Mercer County, officials announced on Wednesday. The money will be used to expand on farm product processing and packaging, hire personnel, and support food safety records, and will be provided through the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Value-Added Producer Grants Program.

The program is for working capital to provide local, organic, pasture-raised eggs and processed cuts of lamb, beef, pork and turkeys.

Shippetaukin, LLC, doing business as Cherry Grove Farm since 1902, is a 400-acre family farm in Lawrenceville. About 240 acres of the farm is pasteurized to support the diversified livestock of egg producing hens, pigs, sheep, cattle and turkeys. The farm’s philosophy is to produce high quality organic food through the humane treatment of animals and with a high regard for the environment.

“From apples to plums, Cherry Grove Farms produce fruits that help keep our families healthy and strengthen our economy. Important investments like this help ensure the New Jersey agricultural community is able to thrive and grow,” U.S Sen. Bob Menendez said. “I’ll continue to champion NJ farmers and business owners to ensure they get the funding they need to make New Jersey’s economy even stronger.”

“New Jersey’s agriculture industry plays a critical role in the health of our regional economy and supports thousands of local jobs,” U.S. Sen. Cory Booker said. “I was proud to sit down with New Jersey farmers just this month to discuss our shared priorities and the importance of supporting proven USDA programs like this. This federal investment will help keep our local farmers competitive and ensure one of the Garden State’s largest industries continues to thrive.”

“I am thrilled to see this funding go to a family-owned farm in my district producing high-quality, local products,” Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-12) said. “Not only are we supporting more sustainable and environmentally friendly farming by ensuring we have producers nearby, we are investing in a small business, helping them grow as an employer, and fortifying our state’s economy. These are exactly the kinds of investments we need to continue making to support working families and increase job opportunities.”

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