Two Viroqua businesses are among eight recipients of 2014 Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin grants, the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) announced Jan. 31.

Grants to Wisco Pop and the Fifth Season Cooperative were announced at the Wisconsin Local Food Summit in Milwaukee.

Wisco Pop, started by Austin and Hallie Ashley in Viroqua in 2012, produces a variety of flavors of crafted soda which are all sweetened by honey. It received the Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin grant to increase market demand for Wisconsin-sourced ingredients by adding a product line and expanding distribution.

Susan Noble, executive director of the Vernon County Economic Development Association (VEDA) in Viroqua, said the grant for Wisco Pop was in the amount of $15,000.

Wisco Pop is sold by the cup in more than 40 restaurants. It is located in the Food Enterprise Center in Viroqua.

Fifth Season Cooperative, which is also located in the Food Enterprise Center, also received a Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin grant. to “create infrastructure to manufacture, market and distribute value-added frozen food products.”

Noble said the grant for Fifth Season was in the amount of $45,000.

Grant recipients were selected through a competitive process. Each recipient will provide cash or an in-kind match equivalent to or greater than 50 percent of the total project costs.

For more information, visit datcp.wi.gov/Business/Buy_Local_Buy_Wisconsin