Cedarbrook Trout Farm Receives State Support to Expand Food Capacity

By Andi Anderson

Cedarbrook Trout Farm in Harrisville has been selected to receive funding through a major state-supported agriculture initiative. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) recently announced more than $3.1 million in grants for 34 Michigan organizations through the USDA’s Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI).

Cedarbrook Trout Farm is among the awardees, earning support to expand its operations and strengthen its role in the local food system.

Cedarbrook Trout Farm specializes in stocking fish and providing public fishing opportunities. According to owner Jerome Kahn, the grant will allow the business to add a communal kitchen, expand cold storage, and increase its distribution capacity.

These improvements are designed to help the facility process trout more efficiently and make frozen fillets available for purchase throughout the community.

Kahn explained that the expansion will create new opportunities for harvesting, packaging, and storing fish products. With improved cold storage, the farm will be able to freeze fillets and offer customers high-quality, locally sourced trout year-round. This development will also support long-term business sustainability and help the farm reach new markets.

In addition to operational benefits, the expansion project is expected to support local employment. New jobs will be created through increased processing and distribution needs, strengthening the economic foundation of the surrounding area.

“It’ll make the community more food secure and diverse,” Kahn said. “It will definitely be a plus for the community.”

Kahn also noted that his son, James Glazier, will lead the grant-funded project work. This involvement ensures that the farm continues to grow through a combination of family leadership and community-focused investment.

The RFSI program aims to support farms and food businesses that are enhancing supply chain resilience, improving food access, and expanding regional processing and distribution. By receiving this grant, Cedarbrook Trout Farm is positioned to play a larger role in supporting Michigan’s local food network.

With its planned upgrades and expanded operations, the farm will contribute to a stronger, more diverse, and more secure food system for its community and the region.

Photo Credit: pexels-julia-m-cameron