The north carolina department of agriculture consumer services will enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through leveraging efforts to promote specialty crops assisting producers with…

This federal Block Grant award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) under the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (CFDA 10.170) provides $1,200,620.86 to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in North Carolina.

The key products and services to be delivered through this 3-year grant (Sep 2024 - Sep 2027) include:

• Promoting specialty crops and assisting producers with relevant research and development
• Expanding availability and access to specialty crops
• Addressing local, regional, and national challenges facing specialty crop producers through various activities and projects with grant recipients

The grant aims to leverage efforts to support North Carolina's specialty crop industries, which include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, horticulture, and nursery crops. NCDA&CS, the state agency responsible for agriculture, will serve as the primary recipient and manage sub-awards to various entities to achieve the grant's objectives.

The north carolina department of agriculture consumer services will enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through leveraging efforts to 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 crops producers through a variety of activities projects with grant recipients. Beneficiaries include the residents of north carolina. Performance evidence in the form of measurable outcome is required.