![USDA Offers Help to Specialty Crop Farmers in the PNW](http://townsquare.media/site/1144/files/2024/02/attachment-Specialty-Crops.jpg?w=980&q=75)
USDA Offers Help to Specialty Crop Farmers in the PNW
Specialty crops include fruits, vegetables, and tree nuts. Specialty crop growers in Washington State, Oregon, and Idaho might benefit from two USDA programs that focus on exports and fund innovative projects.
USDA Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt talks first about expanding export opportunities.
We're working right now with Australia on market access for apples. It's technical information that the industry needs to be able to provide, and so that's what this program will do, is what are mitigation measures, what are the types of concerns that the country has.
The other announcement covers the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. USDA will work with state departments of agriculture to help those departments spearhead the program.
It can fund consumer education, it can fund market development and promotion of specialty crops, and then the last one is also research.
Applications from states must be submitted by May 2nd.
Washington's Top 10 Commodities
Gallery Credit: Danielle Kootman
Oregon's Top 10 Commodities
Gallery Credit: Jaime Skelton
More From PNW Ag Network
![StockSmart Offers Easy App With Efficient Grazing Solutions](http://townsquare.media/site/1144/files/2024/02/attachment-Cattle-Grazing.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![OSU Receives $3.5M Grant To Create New Naked Barley Strains](http://townsquare.media/site/1144/files/2024/02/attachment-Barley.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Washington Invasive Species In Focus During Upcoming Awareness Week](http://townsquare.media/site/1144/files/2024/02/attachment-WA-Invasive-Species-Week.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Tri-Cities Intermodal Offers Wallula Facility Update](http://townsquare.media/site/1144/files/2024/02/attachment-Intermodal-Transport.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Oregon Opens Applications for Vacant Board of Agriculture Positions](http://townsquare.media/site/1144/files/2024/02/attachment-OR-Board-of-Ag.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![SoilCon24: What You Need To Know](http://townsquare.media/site/1144/files/2024/01/attachment-SoilCon-Overview.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Washington State Secures $6M in Grants for Food System](http://townsquare.media/site/1144/files/2024/02/attachment-WA-Food-Systems-Grant.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Automated Lasers Safeguarding Farms From Birds in the PNW](http://townsquare.media/site/1144/files/2024/02/attachment-Bird-Deterrent-.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Pacific Northwest Cherries Launch Promos in India To Entice Exports](http://townsquare.media/site/1144/files/2024/02/attachment-Cherry-Exports-India.jpg?w=980&q=75)