growing the value-chain

Infrastructure Initiatives

We connect farmers, gardeners, food entrepreneurs – and those who want to be – with resources, infrastructure, training, and networks to succeed.

ARCD’s mission is to connect our communities through local farms and foods. As a part of this, we are actively working in partnership to expand processing infrastructure for our farmers and producers throughout the region.

The Appalachian Producers Cooperative

ARCD has served as the fiscal sponsor and grant writer & manager for the Appalachian Producers Cooperative (APC) in their efforts to build a new USDA inspected meat processing facility in Washington County, TN. ARCD has helped bring in $8.6 million in grant funding to date for this project. Construction is expected to wrap up in Spring 2025 with the facility being operated by a farmer-owned cooperative after opening. The facility will process up to 6,000 head of cattle, hog and small rimnants by local farmers in our region.