The ohio 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 U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) awarded a $608,110.73 Specialty Crop Block Grant to the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) on September 30, 2024. The grant, funded through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (CFDA 10.170), will support ODA's efforts to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Ohio over a three-year period ending on September 29, 2027. The grant funding will be used by ODA to leverage marketing and promotion of specialty crops, assist producers with research and development, expand availability and access to specialty crops, and address local, regional, and national challenges confronting specialty crop producers through various projects and activities. ODA, as the primary recipient, may sub-grant portions of the funding to research institutions, universities, and local agricultural organizations to carry out these initiatives.

The ohio 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. Beneficiaries include the residents of the state of ohio and the specialty crop industry. Performance evidence in the form of measurable outcomes is required.