Texas Food & Wine Alliance Awards Record $183,000 in Culinary Grants

The Texas Food & Wine Alliance awarded a record $183,000 in culinary grants this year, funding 22 projects across 13 food and beverage businesses and nonprofit initiatives across the state. The grants, announced Dec. 11 in Austin, mark the largest single-year distribution in the organization’s history.

Since launching the program in 2012, the alliance has awarded $782,000 to chefs, farmers, producers and nonprofits whose work demonstrates innovation and community impact.

“It feels very rewarding that TFWA can have this kind of an impact at a time when we know they need it most,” said Jessica Sanders, president of the Texas Food & Wine Alliance.

Grant funding this year ranged from $5,000 to $25,000. Of the $183,000 awarded, $79,500 came from named and sponsored grants, while $103,000 was funded directly by the alliance through proceeds raised throughout 2025. Projects were selected from Austin, San Antonio, Dallas and rural Central Texas.

Austin recipients

In Austin, grants supported a mix of food producers, farms and community-focused businesses.

Rosen’s Bagels received $10,000 to support the expansion of fRosens, its never-before-baked frozen bagel product designed for home baking. Founder Tom Rosen said the grant will help the company focus on scaling that side of the business.

“Our fRosens product is something we’ve always been really proud of,” Rosen said. “This grant will help us focus on growing that part of the business.”

Hot Spell Farm was awarded $22,500 to replace an aging tractor that frequently breaks down, allowing the farm to expand its community-supported agriculture program and increase the number of free “solidarity shares” it provides to community members.

Pickle Envy, Austin’s only producer of live, probiotic fermented dill pickles using traditional techniques, received $10,000 to invest in large-capacity fermentation vessels to improve product consistency while reducing food waste.

Casey’s Snowballs, also known as Sweet Treats for Good, received $10,000 to help launch a holiday line of fudge, brittle and caramel candies, with a portion of sales supporting local nonprofits addressing food insecurity and education in Travis County.

Central Texas recipients

In rural Central Texas, grants supported agricultural projects focused on workforce training, food access and small-scale production.

The Refugee Collective, based in Elgin, received $25,000 to support its Refugee Foodways in Central Texas program, which provides refugees with agricultural training and opportunities to share their culinary traditions through shelf-stable and fermented foods grown on the organization’s certified organic farm.

Coyote Creek Farm, also in Elgin, was awarded $25,000 to invest in cold storage infrastructure for its honor store, which provides farm-fresh meats, vegetables and prepared foods to rural communities. The farm previously received a Texas Food & Wine Alliance grant in 2022.

In Fredericksburg, The Burg Wine Company received $10,000 to purchase stainless steel tanks, oak barrels and fermentation bins to improve wine quality and expand small-lot production. Co-owner Remi Imler said the funding will allow the business to grow its production capacity.

“The money we have been awarded from the Texas Food Alliance is game-changing for a small business like ours,” Imler said. “This money will provide us the opportunity to take it to the next level.”

San Antonio recipients

Several San Antonio-based projects received funding this year, with grants supporting cultural preservation, food access and education:

• Sari-Sari Market & Bakery: Received $15,000 to upgrade its bakery with a new vent hood as part of a long-term renovation.
• Texas Bean Freak: Awarded $7,500 to expand production of heirloom seeds, build greenhouse infrastructure and host free community workshops focused on sustainable gardening.
• Three Six General: Received $10,000 for facility improvements supporting local meat production, preserved foods and hands-on butchering and food preparation classes.
• San Antonio Food Bank (Urban Farm Project): Awarded $5,000 to launch an agricultural job-training program for incarcerated individuals that pairs classroom instruction with daily farm work.

Dallas recipients

Two Dallas-based projects were also among this year’s recipients:

• Molino Olōyō: Received $25,000 to support tortilla and nixtamal production ahead of opening a neighborhood restaurant centered on heirloom corn and regenerative farming, with plans for community workshops and culinary training.
• Hao’s Grocery & Café: Awarded $8,000 to expand its Farmers Market Cart, a mobile program delivering fresh produce and nutrition education to children at schools and community events.

Providing support to small businesses

The alliance also recognized Austin-based Kinship Milk Tea, Leander family farm The 75 Oaks, and San Marcos distillery and tasting room Senza Maeso as honorable mention projects to watch.

Sanders said the alliance’s grant program is designed to be accessible to both urban and rural projects and to provide support to businesses that may not have access to traditional funding sources. Beyond financial assistance, she said the program helps foster long-term relationships among grant recipients.

“These entrepreneurs are pursuing their own dreams, but they’re also building something of value to the communities around them,” Sanders said.

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