USDA Awards $382,000 in Value-Added Producer Grants to Happy Cow Creamery and J.E. Cooley Farms in South Carolina

(Columbia, S.C., October 26, 2026) - U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development South Carolina State Director Jacob French today announced the agency is awarding $382,000 through the Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) Program to two South Carolina producers: $182,000 to Happy Cow Creamery, Inc. in Pelzer and $200,000 to J.E. Cooley Farms, Inc. in Chesnee. French presented ceremonial checks during visits to the operations.

"From fresh bottled milk to Carolina peaches, Happy Cow Creamery and Cooley Farms show what South Carolina's family farms can do. These investments will help both businesses grow, reach new customers and strengthen our rural economy," said French. "Under the leadership of President Donald Trump and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, USDA is putting American farmers and producers first."

Happy Cow Creamery, Inc. is a family-owned dairy located in Pelzer. The dairy currently milks 100 Holstein cows raised on 174 acres of pasture and pasteurizes and bottles its milk on-site. Its products are sold through the farm store as well as 55 retail outlets in the region. The grant will support the creamery in expanding sales of bottled milk into additional retail outlets in the Greenville area. In addition, the funds will help offset costs associated with packaging, processing, and staffing for sales and delivery. The project is expected to increase the customer base by approximately 35%, create one new job, and preserve five jobs.

J.E. Cooley Farms, Inc., also known as Strawberry Hill USA Farm, is a multigenerational family operation in Chesnee that has produced peaches, strawberries, and other fresh fruits and vegetables since the 1940s. Today, the farm cultivates peaches on 800 acres and sells them both to established local retail markets and directly on the farm. The VAPG funds will support the farm in expanding into new markets for locally grown peaches and establishing additional retail locations in Asheville. By expanding into new regional markets and strengthening existing sales channels, the project will increase returns to the producers, enhance overall farm profitability, and support long-term financial sustainability.

USDA Rural Development's Value-Added Producer Grant Program supports agricultural producers as they develop value-added agricultural products, conduct market research, and implement business and marketing strategies. Applications for the VAPG Program are typically accepted for processing from agricultural producers between January and May, depending on when program funding is allocated.

USDA Rural Development recently invested $26.5 million across the country through the Value-Added Producer Grant Program, including $1.43 million in South Carolina.

For more information on USDA Rural Development investments in rural America, visit the Rural Data Gateway . The Rural Data Gateway is an online tool that makes USDA Rural Development investment data available to the public, supporting partnerships with rural residents, entrepreneurs, government officials and Congress. Learn more online at www.rd.usda.gov/sc and follow us on X at @RdSouthcarolina .

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