Washington state farmers could find some financial relief from the pandemic. The state’s Agriculture Department is offering grants to small ag businesses that suffered economic losses.
Laura Raymond, with the Washington State Department of Ag, says these grants will go to producers in four unique sectors: shellfish growers, farmers markets organizations, agritourism, and small breweries and wineries.
Raymond says specialty crops, specifically aquaculture, had fewer financial relief options. She explains, for instance, that shellfish growers in Washington state rely heavily on sales to restaurants, so they have been really challenged to find viable markets for their products given the widespread and lengthy restaurant closures due to COVID.
Producers can apply for economic grants on their website.
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