Delight Foods, Inc. received notification of a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) award to fund their Phase I SBIR project entitled, "Packaging and Marketing of Domestic Vegetable Soybeans." The USDA SBIR program awards competitive grants to small businesses. If successful, this research could lead to social and commercial benefits. The SBTDC's John Ujvari provided helpful feedback to Delight Foods during the grant writing process. Prior to this grant, Delight Foods conducted four years of research into the domestic production of vegetable soybeans in partnership with crop scientists, food scientists, and farmers.
The principal investigator for this project, Ms. Lila Y. Chung, Delight Foods president and founder said, "Our research represents a new opportunity to small family farmers in North Carolina - but this group has been offered other income alternatives to tobacco before, only to be disappointed by the lack of marketing support available once the product launches." Ms. Chung continued, "It is not enough to conduct the agricultural field research. This SBIR Phase I grant addresses the equally important marketing and packaging issues."
Ms. Neesha Mirchandani, responsible for the planning and execution of the project commented, "As an immigrant from Hong Kong, it is Ms. Chung's dream that North Carolinians will be able to replace lost tobacco income with healthful and profitable agricultural products. She brings her Asian heritage to bear on this project - and if it succeeds, it will be only fitting that it will benefit her home state for almost three decades - North Carolina." Ms. Mirchandani also noted that the soybean project has led to the formation of a membership organization of small family farmers called the Eastern Growers' Association (EGA). Delight Foods will support EGA's request to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture to build a processing plant in the distressed Eastern counties of the state.
Ms. Chung said, "The family farm is an integral part of the American fabric. That's why we were encouraged to hear of Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler's Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund. We welcome his commitment to small family farms as a way "to revitalize our communities and bring economic and environmental benefits to all North Carolinians."
Delight Foods, Inc. is a privately-held company in Morrisville,
North Carolina providing a variety of healthful products including vegetable
soybeans, soy-based vegetarian patties and nuggets, texturized vegetable protein,
baked goods, and soy energy bars. To learn more about Delight Foods, visit
www.delightsoy.com; contact
Lila Y. Chung, President (919.468.1077) or Neesha Mirchandani, Press Relations
(919.696.4531); or send e-mail to delight@delightsoy.com.