California received $19.2 million out of approximately $60.6 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Block grants awarded nationwide.
The SCBGP provides grants to state departments of agriculture to fund projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops, defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture).
“This is an essential program for California in meeting a state priority - helping our specialty crop growers remain competitive,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “The success of this grant program has generated widespread support for continued robust funding in the Farm Bill.”
The program will fund 54 projects, awarding grants ranging from $50,000 to $450,000 to non-profit and for-profit organizations, government entities, and colleges and universities. Selected through a competitive process, these projects focus on increasing sales of specialty crops by leveraging the California Grown identity; increasing consumption by expanding the specialty crop consumer market, improving product availability, and providing nutritional education for consumers; training growers to equip them for current and future challenges; and conducting research on conservation and environmental outcomes, pest control and disease, and organic and sustainable production practices.
Some of the projects awarded through the grant include:
- CA GROWN, Farm2Fan, $1.5 million
- Tomato Product Wellness Council, $450k
- Stanislaus Farm Supply, $431k
The 2017 SCBGP project abstracts are available online at https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/grants.
Source: turlockjournal.com