The Farm Store in downtown Pottsville has been awarded a $250,000 state grant to support its mission of providing fresh food from local farmers. This funding will be used to retrofit a community kitchen on the property, allowing the store to expand its food offerings.
Angela Meck, co-owner of The Farm Store, expressed her enthusiasm for the grant’s impact: “The RFSI Grant Program funding allows us to bring value-added equipment into the Farm Store kitchen that we would not have been able to otherwise purchase.” She added that this new equipment will enable them to create shelf-stable items such as freeze-dried strawberries and canned peaches, supporting more local farmers by purchasing their produce.
Senator Dave Argall highlighted the significance of this development for Pottsville residents: “For residents of Pottsville, this new access to fresh food in downtown is a big deal.” He also noted the broader revitalization efforts underway in downtown Pottsville.
Representative Tim Twardzik emphasized the economic benefits of the project: “This investment will breathe new life into a vacant building while creating opportunities for more than 30 local farmers and helping bring over 100 new food products to market.”
Savas Logothetides, executive director of the Pottsville Area Development Corporation, praised The Farm Store’s achievements since winning the Ignite Schuylkill competition: “Hard work, resilience, and execution are common themes throughout both the program and the entrepreneurs who represent it.”
The grant was awarded through Pennsylvania’s Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This initiative supports food processing and distribution from multiple farms.
The Farm Store is located at 113 E. Norwegian St., operating Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
