USDA to invest $52 million in specialty crop producers

US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced that USDA will invest $52 million in grants to support America's specialty crop producers through the 2013 Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) Program awards. The funding includes 54 block grants to U.S. states and territories that will support 694 initiatives nationwide. These grants will assist producers of fresh fruits and vegetables and help strengthen markets for specialty crops such as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops, including floriculture.

"These investments will strengthen rural American communities by supporting local and regional markets and improving access to fresh, high quality fruits and vegetables for millions of Americans," said Secretary Vilsack. "These grants also help growers make food safety enhancements, solve research needs, and make better informed decisions to increase profitability and sustainability."

The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program for fiscal year 2013 supports initiatives that:

•    Increase nutritional knowledge and specialty crop consumption
•    Improve efficiency within the distribution system and reduce costs
•    Promote the development of good agricultural, handling and manufacturing practices while encouraging audit fund cost-sharing for small farmers, packers and processors
•    Support research through standard and green initiatives
•    Enhance food safety
•    Develop new/improved seed varieties and specialty crops
•    Control pests and diseases
•    Create organic and sustainable production practices
•    Establish local and regional fresh food systems
•    Increasing healthy food access in underserved communities

States and territories are also investing their funds from the 2013 Specialty Crop Block Grants in projects dealing with the following key issues:

•    Almost $3.4 million is going to initiatives that help new and beginning farmers
•    More than $4.3 million will support child and adult nutrition
•    More than $4.5 million will support projects focused Good Agricultural Practices and Good Handling Practices
•    More than $4.3 million will fund additional food safety initiatives
•    More than $14.3 million will support local and regional food systems
•    More than $8.5 million will support sustainable agricultural practices