Idaho Receives $2M For Specialty Crops

Last week, Agricultural Marketing Service awarded over $2 million for Specialty Crop Block Grant Program funding to Idaho for Fiscal Year 2024.  The Idaho State Department of Agriculture will take the money and fund projects focused on enhancing the competitiveness of specialty crop products and create new market opportunities for the state’s specialty crop producers.

“We are happy to once again be partnered with Idaho on the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny 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, 17 projects will be funded.

“We are pleased to provide this opportunity in collaboration with USDA for organizations of all sizes to enhance the competitiveness of Idaho-grown crops,” said ISDA Director Chanel Tewalt. “This year’s Specialty Crop Block Grant funding will address several needs for Idaho’s specialty crops including innovative research, market improvement, educational initiatives and more.”

Recipients include:   

• College of Southern Idaho  

• Idaho Bean Commission  

• Idaho Apple Commission  

• Idaho Cherry Commission  

• Idaho Mint Growers Association  

• Idaho Eastern-Oregon Onion Committee  

• Idaho Hop Grower’s Commission  

• Idaho Potato Commission  

• ISDA Hops Program  

• ISDA Idaho Preferred Program  

• Idaho Wine Commission  

• Idaho Nursery and Landscape Association  

• Sunnyslope Wine Trail  

• Northwest Nazarene University  

• University of Idaho  

 The funding to Idaho is part of a total of $72.9 million in non-competitive FY 2024 SCBGP funding awarded to 54 states, territories and the District of Columbia.  The funding for the grants is authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill.  FY2024 funding is awarded for a three-year period beginning September 30th, 2024.

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.

For more information about these awards Click Here, starting on page 46.

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