Date: Wednesday, August 23, 2023
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WASHINGTON, August 23, 2023—The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today awarded over $1.3 million in Fiscal Year 2023 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funding to Minnesota. With this grant, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) will fund projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crop products and create new market opportunities for the state’s specialty crop producers.
“With this year’s Specialty Crop Block Grant funding, Minnesota is investing in innovative projects that will help address the needs of specialty crop producers within the region,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. “The funded projects will also further USDA’s efforts to ensure U.S. specialty crop products remain competitive in markets across the nation and abroad.”
Through the SCBGP, the MDA will fund 11 projects. These projects focus in areas such as helping produce growers implement on-farm food safety improvements, researching ways to combat pests and diseases affecting specialty crops, increasing supports for underserved farmers, and developing new varieties of Minnesota specialty crops.
“The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program supports innovation in Minnesota’s specialty crop sector and increases market opportunities for our producers,” said Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. “We thank USDA for their continued support that helps strengthen the competitiveness of Minnesota-grown crops.”
The funding to Minnesota is part of a total of $72.9 million in non-competitive FY 2023 SCBGP funding awarded to 54 states, territories, and the District of Columbia. The SCBGP funding supports farmers growing specialty crops, including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and nursery crops. USDA’s support will strengthen U.S. specialty crop production and markets, ensuring an abundant, affordable supply of highly nutritious fruits, vegetables, and other specialty crops, which are vital to the health and well-being of all Americans.
The funding for the SCBGP grants is authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill and FY2023 funding is awarded for a three-year period beginning Sept. 30, 2023. Since 2006, USDA has invested over $1 billion through the SCBGP to fund nearly 12,000 projects that have increased the long-term successes of producers and enhanced marketing opportunities for U.S. specialty crops products.
More information about these awards is available on this webpage: 2023 SCBGP Awarded Grants (pdf).
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