23OMDGCO0087

HOBBS MEYER, LLC DBA PUEBLO SEED FOOD CO (PUEBLO SEED) is a family farm located in southwestern Colorado.

We have been certified organic since 2001 by the Colorado Department of Agriculture and specialize in open pollinated vegetable seeds, varietal garlic and heritage grains and legumes on 30 acres.

During the COVID-19 pandemic we designed and began producing a line of 7 value added grain products and working towards opening our own seed and bakehouse.

In 2021 we purchased a 5300 square foot commercial building in downtown Cortez.

In 2022-2023 we purchased a food grade seed cleaning line and other grain processing equipment for making products and providing seed cleaning services to partner growers.

During 2023 we are increasing seed of 10 species of drought and heat tolerant grains and legumes.

This proposal requests $100,000 to increase capacity in our facility to scale-up processing and develop new products from these crops for seed feed and food markets.

Organic drought hardy heritage grains and cover crops, in particular, are in extremely short supply in the U.S. (HUBBARD ET AL. STATE OF ORGANIC SEED, 2022) and we are seeking to become a central organic supplier of cow peas, tepary beans, finger millets, pearl millets, amaranths, grain sorghums, culinary ryes, culinary barleys, select wheats and flour maize.

We will utilize our existing seed customer list and long-term relationships with national seed companies to increase seed market share.

We will work through food hubs, food pantries, and institutions to increase food market share.

Hobbs & Meyer

THE ORGANIC MARKET DEVELOPMENT GRANT (OMDG) PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW AND EXPANDED ORGANIC MARKETS TO HELP INCREASE THE CONSUMPTION OF DOMESTIC ORGANIC AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES. THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON BUILDING AND EXPANDING CAPACITY FOR CERTIFIED ORGANIC PRODUCTION, AGGREGATION, PROCESSING, MANUFACTURING, STORING, TRANSPORTING, WHOLESALING, DISTRIBUTION, AND DEVELOPMENT OF CONSUMER MARKETS. OMDG AIMS TO INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY AND DEMAND FOR DOMESTICALLY PRODUCED ORGANIC AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND ADDRESS THE CRITICAL NEED FOR ADDITIONAL MARKET PATHS. PRIORITY CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN TO PROJECTS ADDRESSING SPECIFIC PINPOINTED MARKET NEEDS FOR ORGANIC GRAINS AND LIVESTOCK FEED, ORGANIC DAIRY, ORGANIC FIBERS, ORGANIC LEGUMES AND OTHER ROTATIONAL CROPS, AND ORGANIC INGREDIENTS CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE IN ORGANIC FORM.

10.188 - Organic Market Development Grant (OMDG) Program

Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) [USDA]

Colorado United States

State-Wide

Organic Market Development Grants (USDA-AMS-TM-OMDG-G-23-0019)