How a Small Farm Loan Helped a Tyler, TX Farm Expand Fresh Produce Delivery

Grace Brown started growing vegetables in her backyard in 2018. Today, she runs Uncle Paul’s Agritourism & Educational Corporation (UPAEC), a small farm in Tyler, Texas, supplying fresh produce to direct customers across the Tyler area and the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) metroplex.

For years, the Texas heat made keeping produce fresh between field and delivery a constant challenge. Spoilage losses limited how far UPAEC could grow its market and customer base.

That changed when UPAEC discovered Communities Unlimited (CU) through a Google search. CU’s Lending Team, with support from an investment by the Sachs Family Foundation, provided UPAEC a bridge loan — short-term financing that covers upfront costs while longer-term funding is processed.

The Gap That Stalls Small Farms: Grant Reimbursement Timing

Grant programs like RFSI typically operate on a reimbursement basis: farmers purchase equipment first, then receive reimbursement once grant funds clear. For a small operation, that gap can stall a critical purchase for months. CU’s small farm lending program is built to close exactly that gap, giving small and micro farmers the flexibility to move when opportunity arrives, rather than waiting on reimbursement timelines.

From Backyard Garden to Regional Produce Supplier

UPAEC is already putting the new capacity to work, expanding delivery routes and growing its customer base across East Texas and the DFW Metroplex.

We are excited about the truck and sincerely appreciate Communities Unlimited’s support. The bridge loan made a meaningful difference for our business. We are truly grateful for this partnership.