USDA Presents Smude Sunflower Oil with Value Added Grant Award

    PIERZ, MN, February 19, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Smude Sunflower Oil is gaining popularity as a premier cooking oil, and on February 16, 2012, Tom Smude the founder of Smude Sunflower Oil, received $298,000 from the USDA to help more people enjoy the cold-pressed cooking oil.

Smude Oil is one of Morrison County's emerging companies and Carol Anderson of Community Development of Morrison County couldn't be happier with Tom's success or the impact it will have on this rural Minnesota community.

"Community Development of Morrison County is proud to be able to assist Tom and Jenni Smude with their project. They are both true entrepreneurs that make an outstanding product. Not only does this project produce a unique product it also creates a new market crop for local area farmers. Also, the by-product is used for animal feed and bedding."

According to the USDA website, value-added grants are used to "promote activities that will improve the customer base for the commodity or product". In this case, the USDA grant money will be used to increase distribution and promote the Smude Sunflower oil.

In 2009, he started his cold-pressed sunflower operation and by 2010 he was producing, bottling and selling Smude Virgin Cold Press Sunflower Oil. This natural oil offers a flavorful, healthy alternative to cooking oil and is on the shelves in 60 retail locations and available online.

A number of organizations have assisted Smude Oil gain traction in the market: Community Development, the Initiative Foundation, North Central Economic Development Association and USDA FSA assisted with the funding for the building and equipment for Smude's. The Small Business Development Center in Brainerd packaged the application for the USDA Value Added Grant.

In attendance today to present the award in the first row, left to right, was Jenni Smude, Colleen Landkamer , State Director United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development, Carol Anderson, Executive Director for Community Development of Morrison County and Julie Anderholm, Small Business Development Center Brainerd.

Back row, left to right, Chuck Ackman, Region Outreach Director for Senator Amy Klobuchar, Perry Nouis, Constituent Services Representative for Congressman Chip Cravaack, Sandy Voigt, the Initiative Foundation, Darrell Larson, United States Department of Agriculture, Farm Services Administration and Paul Dorenfeld, United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OF MORRISON COUNTY can be found on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/#!/cdc.morrison.mn.us). Community Development of Morrison County provides assistance in many areas important to business expansion or new location such as attractive financing, identification of potential employees, employee training, local government support, identification of real estate and necessary support services for your company.

MORRISON COUNTY, MN is located approximately 100 miles northwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul, in central Minnesota at the junctions of Highways 10, 27, and 371.

SMUDE ENTERPRISES -- Since 2009 Smude Enterprises has been producing its healthy sunflower oil. This cooking oil alternative has led to additional growth and recognition for Smude Enterprises. Honored in 2011 by the Minnesota Jaycees, Tom Smude has been recognized as and "Outstanding Young Farmer" and he prides himself on producing a totally green product. Visit http://www.smudeoil.com to learn more about Tom and his enterprising company.

MEDIA ONLY Contact:
Heidi Thielen
Golden Shovel Agency
+1-888-266-4778
[email protected]

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