Block Grant 21SCBPID1086

The Idaho Department of Agriculture was awarded a $2.76 million Specialty Crop Block Grant from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service on September 30, 2021 to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Idaho through September 29, 2025. As part of the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (CFDA 10.170), the Department will leverage efforts to market and promote specialty crops, assist producers with research and development relevant to specialty crops, expand availability and access to specialty crops, and address challenges confronting specialty crop producers through various activities and projects with sub-awardees.

The Department will provide approximately $2.76 million to 13 sub-awardees including Jannus, Inc., Mountain States Oilseeds LLC, Idaho Farmers Market Association, Idaho Potato Commission, Northwest Cider Association, Gem Fruit Producers, Idaho Independent Food, Agriculture, Restaurant and Beverage Establishments Alliance, University of Idaho, Tamura Farms Inc., and Idaho Grape Growers & Wine Producers Commission to support projects focused on developing new refugee farm sites, oilseed and spice mustard sorting technologies, enhancing farmers markets impacted by COVID-19, modernizing potato sampling and grading, increasing competitiveness of Idaho's craft cider industry, onion peeling for increased consumption and farm sustainability, online ordering platforms to unite producers and retailers, crop protection training for potato producers, and reinvesting in digital communications and education for wine grape growers and producers.