The department of energy environment will enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through leveragingefforts to market and promote specialty crops assisting producers with research and…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service awarded a $243,001.17 Specialty Crop Block Grant on September 30, 2024 under the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (CFDA 10.170). The grant aims to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops, including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and nursery crops, through activities such as marketing and promotion, research and development, and addressing production challenges for specialty crop producers.

The grant includes sub-awards to three organizations in Washington, D.C. to: 1) develop best practices for cultivating, harvesting, and distributing corn truffles, 2) increase access to specialty crops by growing and harvesting them through an urban farm network, and 3) bridge climate-resilient and sustainable growing practices with culturally responsive specialty crops and nutrition education in schools and the community. These sub-awards total approximately $280,000 and were made between April and May 2025.

The department of energy environment will enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through leveragingefforts to market and promote specialty crops assisting producers with research and development relevant tospecialty crops expanding availability and access to specialty crops and addressing local, regional, andnational challenges confronting specialty crop producers through a variety of activities projects with theirgrant recipients. Beneficiaries include the residents of the state or territory. Performance evidence in the formof measurable outcomes is required