Michigan Turkey Producers Cooperative Inc. has been approved by the Michigan Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development for a $75,000 Food and Agriculture Investment Program (FAIP) grant to help reconfigure its current cold storage capacity. The expanded capacity will help fulfill orders more efficiently and enhance local area supply chains.

"In Michigan, we're committed to investing in local food and agriculture businesses. Governor Whitmer's most recent bipartisan budget directly reflects that commitment," said Tim Boring, director of Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. "Michigan’s poultry industry continues to have a significant economic impact on our state and is a critical component of Michigan’s growing food and agriculture sector.”

The $75,000 FAIP grant will help Michigan Turkey Producers Cooperative Inc. to reconfigure and expand their current cold-storage capacity to align with the products that are being produced and shipped. It will also include upgrading their freezer to individual blast freezing racking, also known as Quick Freeze Racking (QFR). Further, the expanded capacity will allow the company to increase orders with current clients and bring on new clients.

The Michigan Turkey Producers Cooperative Inc. is a grower-owned cooperative that was founded in 1998. Today, 5.3 million adult male turkeys are harvested each year at their facility. The turkeys originate from 53 Michigan family farms located in several different counties. Since their purchase of a shuttered vegetable processing and storage facility in 2006 to build a ready-to-eat (cooked) product plant, they have been able to increase production from 3.2 million pounds to 64 million pounds. Michigan Turkey Producers Cooperative Inc. sells locally, throughout the country, and internationally.

"The continued growth of our value-added cooked business has driven the need for additional fresh cooler space," said Brian Boerigter, president of Michigan Turkey Producers Cooperative. "These upgrades will allow us to be more responsive to our customer demand and more efficient in our order fulfillment process. Michigan Turkey Producers’ Board of Directors and Grower Owners greatly appreciate the support from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in helping to make this project possible.”