“We are pleased to add investors and advisors to the SVO team who share in our vision and mission, and offer deep expertise across the retail and supply chain,” says Corwin Heatwole, chief executive officer of SVO. “This investment will enable SVO to continue expanding our retail footprint and Farmer Focus brand offerings.”

The company intends to use the funds for investments in plant modernization to increase throughput volumes, as well as expanded marketing and brand outreach in grocery stores and retail locations throughout the United States.

“Shenandoah Valley Organic is an incredible growth story out of Harrisonburg, Va., and NRV is excited to be part of their future as they continue to expand the Farmer Focus organic meat brand. Their best-in-class traceability links products on the shelf back to the specific family farm that sourced them, providing transparency along with a high-quality, clean-label, organic product,” says Laura Markley, managing director at NRV.

Open Prairie joined the round through the Open Prairie Rural Opportunities Fund, a growth-stage private equity fund dedicated to providing capital to agribusiness companies throughout rural America.

“SVO truly embodies the spirit of rural America, and is well positioned for explosive growth. The Farmer Focus brand personifies the company’s emphasis on developing and maintaining strong relationships with its growers and preserving smaller, independent family farms while also implementing innovative technologies to produce high-quality products for today’s health and environmentally-conscious consumers,” says Jason Wrone, partner at Open Prairie.