The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has announced that $72.9 million has been awarded to 55 states and territories through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). This grant program aims to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops by supporting growers through marketing, education, and research efforts, and the funding is being allocated to various departments of agriculture in states, territories, and other areas to boost specialty crop industries and production.
"The USDA is excited to announce that this year’s Specialty Crop Block Grant awards marks over $1 billion invested in nearly 12,000 projects that support the U.S. specialty crop industry," Tom Vilsack, the Secretary of Agriculture, said. "The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is a critical piece of USDA and the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to support small and mid-sized producers and ensure Americans have sustained access to fresh, locally grown specialty crop products."
According to a press release issued on Aug. 23, 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has allocated $72.9 million to 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). The ultimate goal of the funding is to bolster the specialty crops market by increasing competitiveness, and aiding growers through marketing, education, and research initiatives.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced this funding milestone, with over $1 billion invested in nearly 12,000 projects to support the U.S. specialty crop industry. According to the press release, the SCBGP aligns with the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal of helping producers while ensuring access to locally grown specialty crop products. The funding for this program was approved by the 2018 Farm Bill.
The USDA encouraged states to fund initiatives that benefit producers of fruits, vegetables, and various other sorts of crops. These projects encompass food safety, specialty crop research, seed development, pest control, nutrition education, and distribution system efficiency improvements. Detailed project information can be found in individual state and territory press releases on the SCBGP 2023 Grant Awards webpage.
