The Agricultural Marketing Service of the USDA has declared an allocation of $72.9 million to 55 states and territories via the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP), as part of a strategic move to bolster the market presence of specialty crops.

This initiative is a concerted effort to fortify specialty crop producers, emphasizing marketing strategies, educational programs, and critical research.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack shared the department’s enthusiasm about the SCBGP’s achievements, pointing out the program’s milestone of over $1 billion in investment, funding close to 12,000 projects that bolster the nation’s specialty crop sector.

Under the umbrella of the USDA and the Biden – Harris administration, the program stands as a testament to the ongoing support for small and mid sized agricultural entities, ensuring the American populace enjoys a consistent supply of freshly harvested, local specialty crops.

Allocations for fiscal year 2023 under the SCBGP have been designated to agricultural departments across the 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands, with the 2018 Farm Bill underpinning this authorization.

The USDA actively urges states to channel these grants toward ventures that meet the unique needs of American cultivators of fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and dried fruits, as well as those involved in horticulture and nursery crops.

The funded projects are diverse, ranging from advancing food safety measures and conducting research focused on environmental & conservation outcomes, to the development of innovative crop varieties and the management of pests and diseases.

Moreover, the SCBGP also finances projects aimed at enhancing nutritional education and intake of specialty crops among both children and adults. It seeks to streamline distribution systems, optimizing efficiency and curbing operational costs.

These investments symbolize a comprehensive approach to nurturing the specialty crop industry and fortifying the nation’s agricultural framework.