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WASHINGTON, Aug. 22, 2024 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced over $1.4 million in funding awarded to Arizona through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). Through this program, the Arizona Department of Agriculture will fund projects that strengthen Arizona’s specialty crop industry through marketing, education, and research.
“We are happy to once again be partnered with Arizona on the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. “The innovative projects funded through this program will strengthen U.S. specialty crop production and markets and ensure Americans have sustained access to fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and other specialty crops and support the region’s specialty crop growers to help ensure their long-term success.”
Through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, the Arizona Department of Agriculture will fund 20 projects. Among the department’s projects, is funding to the Arizona Farm Bureau to educate consumers about the state’s specialty crops through development of a standards-based curriculum, offering classroom-based cooking grants, and the creation of interactive 360 video tours. Additional funded projects focus in areas such as pest and disease management, continuing education, increasing access to pesticide use data.
"We are proud to announce this year's Specialty Crop Block Grant awards, in support of a more competitive specialty crop industry in Arizona. Specialty crops are big business here, with 90% of North America's winter leafy greens coming from the Yuma, Arizona area as well as thriving tree nut, date and winegrape industries, and many more examples throughout the state," said Paul Brierley, CEO of the Arizona Department of Agriculture. "Arizona specialty crop producers and consumers will greatly benefit from these efforts to support research, marketing and promotion, and equitable access to healthy and nutritious specialty crops. We value our partnership with the USDA Ag Marketing Service in providing this support to our Ag producers who work day in and day out to feed this nation."
The funding to Arizona is part of a total of $72.9 million in non-competitive FY 2024 funding awarded to 54 states, territories, and the District of Columbia through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. The funding supports farmers growing specialty crops, including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and nursery crops. USDA’s support will strengthen U.S. specialty crop production, expand markets, and ensure an abundant, affordable supply of highly nutritious fruits, vegetables, and other specialty crops is available to all Americans.
View more information on the 2024 SCBGP Awarded Grants (pdf).
AMS administers programs that create domestic and international marketing opportunities for U.S. producers of food, fiber, and specialty crops. AMS also provides the agriculture industry with valuable services to ensure the quality and availability of wholesome food for consumers across the country and globally. AMS services and its significant grant investments create opportunities by supporting American farmers, ranchers and businesses across the supply chain, and drive economic development in small towns and rural communities.
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