On Tuesday Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has awarded 28 Choose Iowa cost-share grants to Iowa farmers, small businesses and non-profits totaling $463,000.
Jasper Winery in Des Moines is one of 28 Choose Iowa cost-share grant recipients for 2023. The winery was also the host site for Tuesday?s press conference to announce the grant recipients. Mason Groben of Jasper Winery says the money will be used to expand infrastructure at the winery to produce cider using Iowa grown apples.
Groben says that these grants will help to promote some areas of Iowa agriculture that are not always as well known.
Groben says that Jasper Winery will now be able to produce cider from apples grown in Iowa after using the grant money to expand production.
He says that the cider production process is similar to producing wine but with a twist.
That was Mason Groben of Jasper Winery in Des Moines.
