The new mexico department of agriculture will enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through leveraging efforts to market and promote specialty crops; assisting producers with research and…

The New Mexico Department of Agriculture was awarded a $794,444.58 Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service under the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program - Farm Bill (CFDA #10.170) for the period of September 30, 2021 through September 29, 2025.

The funding will support efforts to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in New Mexico through activities such as marketing and promotion, research and development assistance, expanding availability and access, and addressing challenges facing specialty crop producers. Sub-awards were provided to eight organizations totaling approximately $794,444.58 to deliver services and programs focused on specialty crop marketing, education and training programs for socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers, value-added product development, and farm-to-school initiatives.

The new mexico department of agriculture will enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through leveraging efforts to market and promote specialty crops; assisting producers with research and development relevant to specialty crops; expanding availability and access to specialty crops; and addressing local, regional, and national challenges confronting specialty crop producers through a variety of activities/projects with their grant recipients. The H.R. 133 stimulus funding encourages states to prioritize projects that respond to covid-19 impacts. Beneficiaries include the residents of all 50 states, 5 territories, and the district of columbia. Performance evidence in the form of measurable outcomes is required.