Announced on eve of Global Produce & Floral Show, latest round of funding backs hundreds of initiatives in the US and overseas
The US government has announced an appropriately timed injection of funds to support growers of fruit, vegetables, nuts, and other horticultural products across the country and a handful of overseas territories.
On the eve of the IFPA’s Global Produce & Floral Show, which takes place on 14-16 October in Orlando, Florida, the US Department of Agriculture said it had allocated US$86.6mn to hundreds of initiatives through its Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
“These 609 state projects represent the Trump Administration’s commitment to innovation, marketing, and research – ensuring specialty crop businesses are at the forefront of markets all around the world,” said Secretary Brooke Rollins.
“Putting farmers first will continue to drive economic growth and strengthen the fabric of rural communities across America.”
The funding is meant to help businesses by enhancing food safety, supporting research, developing new and improved varieties, fighting pests and diseases, educating communities about healthy eating, and making it easier and more affordable to get crops to market.
California remains by far the scheme’s largest recipient – its US$28.96mn allocation represents approximately one-third of this year’s entire programme, and more than five times the allocation of second-placed Washington.
Project highlights
Among the fund’s beneficiaries, which include all states, Michigan plans to use the more than US$2.64mn it receives to enhance the competitiveness of speciality crops including apples, asparagus, beans, blueberries, herbs, mushrooms, and grapes grown in the state.
The Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board says it will promote the consumption of locally-grown asparagus, through in-store promotions, education, and digital marketing to target consumers shopping in store and online.
Georgia, meanwhile, will use over US$1.7mn in support of its pecan, blueberry, pepper, strawberry, peach, apple, onion, and citrus growers, while Ohio has over US$800,000 to back crops including apples, leafy greens, brassicas, herbs, and nuts.
In Pennsylvania, there will be over $1.1 million for research, education and outreach, and marketing of mushrooms, potatoes and apples.
Texas will use over US$2mn for to support grapes, watermelons, pecans, onions, and spinach.
Florida will use over US$4.3mn on research, education and outreach, and marketing of mangoes, blueberries, sweet corn, and muscadine grapes.
North Carolina will use more than US$1.5Mn to enhance competitiveness of sweet potatoes, tomatoes, blueberries, apples, and melons.
In Vermont, the University of Vermont Extension will conduct research and on-farm trials to develop new disease and pest control strategies for the state’s organic strawberry growers.
And in Nevada, the state’s Department of Agriculture and its partners plan to develop the Farm2Food Accelerator, a 15-week project that helps the state’s female producers and entrepreneurs to grow their businesses.
Since 2006, the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program has reportedly invested more than US$1bn in over 12,400 projects.
