Oregon Awarded $2.1M In Specialty Crop Block Program Funds

The Oregon Department of Agriculture is out with this year’s recipients of Specialty Crop Block Grant Program funds. Nearly $2.1 million will fund 14 projects to help boost the competitiveness of Oregon’s fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, nursery crops, and other specialty crops.

2019 grant aware winners include:

Central Oregon Veterans Ranch
National Association of State Department of Agriculture
Northwest Cider Association
Oregon Aglink
Oregon Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation
Oregon Hazelnut Commission
Oregon Raspberry and Blackberry Commission
Pacific Coast Producers
Rockwood CDC
Wilco Farmers
Pear Bureau Northwest
Oregon State University

Click Here for details on each of the projects.

Currently, Oregon ranks sixth in the nation in production of specialty crops. Over the past nine years, Oregon has received nearly $18 million in funding from the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, which has paved the way for nearly 200 projects throughout the state and supporting the following priorities:

Local/regional/domestic/international market development, access, and certification
On Farm Labor Needs
Cross Commodity Collaboration
Food Safety Compliance and Traceability
Addressing Regulatory Burden
Productivities Enhancements, Innovation and Value-Added Products
Agriculture and Food Related Priorities Identified by Oregon Solutions Network Regional Solutions Centers

“Specialty crops are a critical part of agriculture in the state,” says ODA Director Alexis Taylor. “The projects funded with these dollars are important to the diversity of Oregon agriculture across the state. The grants give our producers resources to become more competitive in the marketplace.”

The 2019 funded projects involve a diversity of crops and span a wide geographic area of Oregon agricultural production.

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