A dozen farm-to-school producers have received a shot in the arm from the Oregon Department of Agriculture.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture has provided $500,000 in grants to 12 farm-to school-producers, including three in Southern Oregon, so the businesses can purchase equipment and upgrade infrastructure.

The awards, announced Oct. 29, are the first Oregon-funded grant program to help producers and processors overcome financial barriers to entering or expanding into the school marketplace.

ODA received funding requests totaling approximately $1 million from 22 qualified applicants.

Most of the recipients are growers who produce fresh crops or minimally processed products for school meals.

Collectively, grantees provided more than $145,000 in matching funds toward the state’s investment.

Grants were awarded to:

•Happy Curry Foods, Salem, $75,000.

•Poole Family Farm, Hood River, $74,900.

•Danish Honey Farms, Chiloquin, $74,900.

•Whistling Duck Farm, Grants Pass, $47,400.

•Terra Sol Organics, Williams, $43,200.

•Sufiya Farm, Portland, $41,000.

•And the Plot Chickens, Burns, $34,200.

•Valley Flora, Langlois, $29,900.

•Full Cellar Farm, Boring, $29,500.

•Little Wings Farm, Eugene, $23,700.

•Salsa Garcia, Eugene, $15,000.

•Rusted Gate Farm, Central Point, $10,100.