11/11/2025
🚜Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries Awards Grants to Local Farms Through Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Project🚜
By Baiden Little
Pictures by Taylor Arant
The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) made a special stop in Chilton County today to present grant checks to two local farms as part of the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Project. Boozer Farmsand J. Durbin Farms were among the recipients, recognized for their continued efforts to strengthen Alabama’s local food supply and reduce waste in the state’s agricultural system.
The RFSI Project, a federal initiative administered through state agricultural departments, is designed to build stronger, more flexible food systems by improving the processing, storage, and distribution of agricultural products. The goal is to ensure that locally grown foods can reach more consumers while minimizing losses that occur between harvest and market.
Through this funding, Boozer Farms and J. Durbin Farms plan to enhance their handling and preservation of section 2 fruits, produce that might otherwise go unsold or spoil due to minor imperfections. By improving infrastructure and creating new processing opportunities, these farms will be able to turn surplus or cosmetically imperfect fruits into usable products, preventing waste and supporting sustainability within Alabama’s farming community.
Representatives from ADAI emphasized that projects like RFSI not only support farmers but also strengthen rural economies and local food networks. “This program helps keep more of Alabama’s products in Alabama,” said Tim Minor
Both Boozer Farms and J. Durbin Farms expressed gratitude for the support, noting that the funds will help them continue investing in innovation and community-based food solutions.
The RFSI grants mark another step forward in ADAI’s commitment to supporting local producers and ensuring that Alabama agriculture remains strong, sustainable, and ready to meet the challenges of the future.