Mercer County farm receives $97,000 state grant for equipment upgrades

Lengel Brothers Farm in Mercer County, a family operation with roots stretching back to the 1940s, is among 77 farms across Pennsylvania receiving more than $21 million in federally funded grants aimed at strengthening the state's food supply chain.

Lengel Brothers Farm, which has been providing produce to western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio communities for decades, was awarded $97,627 in an Equipment-Only grant.

The funding will support the acquisition of cold storage units and a refrigerated vehicle. These additions are intended to extend the shelf life of produce and improve delivery capabilities for the farm, known for its locally sourced produce, fruit, honey, and other farm-to-table foods.

The farm, located on Mercer Grove City Road, began as a dairy operation in the early 1940s. Brothers David and Elliott Lengel now manage the farm, which transitioned from a large dairy to focus on diverse crops and livestock in the mid-1990s. They currently cultivate 60 acres of vegetables, including sweet corn, tomatoes, peppers, microgreens, and also raise beef and hogs.

The grants are part of Pennsylvania's Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) program, a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The program provides matching grants to support food processing, distribution, and aggregation, with the goal of meeting local and seasonal food demand.

Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding stated that the investment aims to foster a stronger local supply chain, which can lead to healthier communities and business growth.

The funding will support equipment upgrades, safety improvements, and facility modernization across the state, enabling manufacturers to expand product lines and enhance connections between farmers and consumers.