The virginia department of agriculture and consumer services will enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through leveraging efforts to market and promote specialty crops; assisting producers…

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will receive $731,138.69 through September 2025 under a Specialty Crop Block Grant from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. The grant project aims to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Virginia through marketing and promotion efforts, assisting producers with research and development, expanding availability and access, and addressing local, regional, and national challenges confronting specialty crop producers. Activities will respond to COVID-19 impacts as encouraged through H.R. 133 stimulus funding. Outcomes will be measured to meet the performance-based requirements of the grant.

The virginia department of agriculture and consumer services 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.