USDA announces funds to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops

USDA has announced the award of Specialty Crop Block Grant Program grants to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Specialty crops are defined as horticulture, including floriculture and nursery crops, fruits, vegetables, tree nuts and dried fruits.
The 54 grants that were announced total approximately $55 million, and will fund 827 projects, a 10% increase over last year. California received the highest amount of funding, nearly $17.3 million. Two of the California horticulture-related programs that received funding are:
* Partner with the California Cut Flower Commission to examine California flower farmers’ current sustainability practices and establish a carbon footprint analysis method that compares imported flowers to California Grown flowers and conduct a comprehensive public relations campaign targeting industry, media and consumers with findings from the study.
* Partner with the California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers to create a science-based best management practice rating screen for nursery crops, survey exiting best management practices, use the screen to identify and rank those practices with demonstrated benefits for nurseries, classify the remaining practices based on their apparent potential for benefit, make nurseries aware of the most effective practices that reduce risk of introduction or spread of existing or new invasive pests and encourage them to use those effective practices.

Pictured: California Cut Flowers Commission has received funding from the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program to study grower sustainability practices.