CAIC Blog

Let’s Eat, CAIC: A Vibrant Summer Cheese Board
 Summer is officially here in the Delmarva region, and there are few things that pair better with sunny weather (and outdoor cocktails) than a local cheese board. Need some inspiration? In the latest installment of our “Let’s Eat, CAIC” series, which highlights different ways to use local products, CA...
June 24, 2024
FSMA Final Rule on Pre-Harvest Agricultural Water: What You Need to Know
 On May 8, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a final rule that (per the agency) “revises certain pre-harvest agricultural water provisions for covered produce (other than sprouts) in Subpart E of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule.” Confused by the latest r...
June 3, 2024
Let’s Eat, CAIC: Brunch-Ready Sweet and Savory Crepes
When it comes to brunch food, we all know it can be difficult to choose between a sweet dish and a savory one. But why not both? Look no further than the latest installment of our “Let’s Eat, CAIC” series, which highlights different ways to use local ingredients. This week, we’ll show you a recipe for...
May 29, 2024
How Could an Apprentice Help Your Farm?
In honor of Youth Apprenticeship Week, learn more about CAIC’s partners at the Maryland Apprenticeship Connector (MAC). Are you a Maryland farmer or value-added producer looking for additional hired help on your farm? Whether you’re in search of someone to work the register at farmers markets, someone...
May 7, 2024
Producer Spotlight: Meet Andrea Davis-Cetina of Quarter Acre Farm
Get to know Andrea Davis-Cetina! An organic farmer and value-added producer, she’ll be CAIC’s April 17 Producers Unveiled keynote speaker.Davis-Cetina is the founder and co-owner of Quarter Acre Farm, where she grows produce including organic garlic, peppers, tomatillos, heirloom tomatoes, and sweet p...
April 12, 2024
The Top Five Reasons to Attend Producers Unveiled 2024
Grab your (free) tickets! Registration is open for this year’s Producers Unveiled, scheduled for Wednesday, April 17. CAIC’s annual culminating event celebrates our extraordinary program attendees and alumni, allowing them to showcase their products and share their stories of success. It’s also a perf...
March 14, 2024
Producers Unveiled Press Release
Join the Chesapeake Agriculture Innovation Center (CAIC) team for a day of inspiration and celebration! CAIC, a non-profit dedicated to helping small Delmarva agriculture and aquaculture businesses grow and thrive, is excited to announce that registration is open for this year’s Producers Unveiled sho...
March 7, 2024
CAIC Alumni Spotlight: Hope’s Caramels
Welcome to the first installment of our #AwesomeAlumni series, which will highlight some of the remarkable people who have participated in CAIC programs!  For Delaware-based Hope’s Caramels, whose co-founder Brady Shuert was a member of the inaugural Producers Growth Program cohort in early 2023, the ...
March 4, 2024
Chickens
CAIC in the Community: The 2024 Future Harvest Conference
For the CAIC team, the 2024 Future Harvest Conference was a perfect opportunity to get the new year started right. With a theme of “Nourish & Flourish From the Ground Up,” the event brought together more than 300 attendees from the Delmarva agricultural industry. Here are five of our Future Harves...
February 19, 2024

MINI-GRANTs

Mini-Grants up to $5,000 are available for:
– Market Research and Validation of Target Market
– Customer Acquisition
– Product Development Initiatives
– Food Safety Classes
Eligibility
Value-added producers and companies with traction ($20,000 or more in yearly revenue) in Maryland and Delaware are eligible to apply for Mini-Grants. Participants may apply once for each of the categories. Applicants must demonstrate that they have a unique and differentiated product or service that incorporates an aspect of innovation or technology in its production, processing, distribution, or other element of the food supply system.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Award decisions will be made and funds will be available no later than three weeks following the receipt of a completed application.
Application Process
Applicants must submit Mini-Grant proposals by filling out the form at this link. Copy(ies) of quote(s), proposal(s), estimate(s), or any other supporting documents.

ACCESS TO SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS (SMES)

CAIC offers access to Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) who can offer authoritative advice based on their deep knowledge and experience in a specific area. See the ADVISORS page of this Web site to learn more about the SMEs who are available to CAIC participants.