Specialty crop growers receive funding

WASHINGTON, DC -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced it is awarding $82.3 million to 65 recipients to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops—including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and nursery crops—and support the industry’s producers. The funding is being awarded through USDA’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) and the Specialty Crop Multi-State Grant (SCMP) Program.

Pecans are just one of many specialty crops. Photo credit - Oks Malkova / Pexels

From market development to consumer education to research, these programs expand markets and increase competitiveness of the specialty crop industry and increase access to specialty crops for consumers. The Specialty Crop Block Grant and Specialty Crop Multi-State programs are funded by the 2018 Farm Bill and administered by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).

“This funding will strengthen U.S. specialty crop production and markets and ensure Americans have sustained access to fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables, tree nuts and more,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. “These programs are furthering USDA’s and the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to build a more resilient food system, one where producers and consumers have more, new and better market opportunities, which helps farmers and their communities prosper.”

Through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, USDA is awarding $72.9 million to 54 states and territories to support specialty crop growers through marketing, education, and research. The states and territories use the funding to provide subawards to projects that focus on areas such as investing in food safety, research on conservation and environmental outcomes, developing new and improved seed varieties, and pest and disease management. To date, USDA has invested over $1 billion to more than 12,400 projects through this program.

Additionally, $9.4 million is being awarded to 11 projects through the Specialty Crop Multi-State Program. The program funds collaborative multi-state partnerships to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Specialty Crop Multi-State grants address regional or national level specialty crop issues through research, crop-specific projects addressing common issues, and marketing and promotion. Since 2015, this program has awarded over $29 million to 40 projects across the country.

Examples of Funded Projects:

Specialty Crop Block Grant: The Nevada Department of Agriculture, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), and Union Kitchen will partner to develop the Farm2Food Accelerator, a 15-week program helps the state’s female specialty crop producers and food entrepreneurs grow their value-added businesses into new statewide and regional markets.
Specialty Crop Block Grant: The Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board will promote the consumption of Michigan-grown asparagus, through in-store promotion programs, educational opportunities, and digital marketing to target consumers grocery shopping both in-store and online.
Specialty Crop Multi-State Grant: Oregon State University, University of California Davis, Kelp Line LLC, and University of Alaska Fairbanks will work collaboratively to conduct research, development, and outreach to develop Pacific dulse seaweed as a sustainable, nutritious specialty crop.