The arizona 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 Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service awarded $1.350108 million to the Arizona Department of Agriculture on September 30, 2025, under the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (CFDA 10.170) to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops across Arizona through research, development, marketing, education, and outreach activities addressing local, regional, and national challenges confronting specialty crop producers. The award runs through September 29, 2028, and supports 14 sub-awarded projects targeting leafy greens, brassicas, Medjool dates, Apache squash, Apache corn, chilies, summer squash, basil, melons, and other fruits and vegetables throughout Arizona.

The University of Arizona leads nine research and technical projects: developing a targeted DNA enrichment system for improved pathogen detection in leafy greens; managing insecticide resistance through a decision-support tool for pest control advisors and growers with trainings and demonstrations; assessing soil health impacts of different sanitizer chemistries in romaine production; evaluating risk reduction strategies for biological soil amendments use in fresh produce; addressing insect-transmitted viruses affecting Arizona's melon industry; testing organic and conventional fungicides to reduce Aspergillus niger in date fruit; maintaining access to timely pesticide use data for specialty crop industries; and annually assessing Bremia lactucae populations in the Yuma growing region through pathogen monitoring at a trap nursery. The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension also partners with Arizona Department of Agriculture to provide expanded Produce Safety Rule food safety training to harvest foremen, supervisors, and workers in the fresh produce industry.

The White Mountain Apache Tribe will demonstrate and share improved growing methods for increased production and distribution of local and cultural food products to tribal members living on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation.

The arizona 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 state's sub-awards include 7 research projects, 2 education and outreach projects, 1 marketing project and 4 projects that cross more than one focus area to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops including leafy greens, brassicas, medjool dates, apache squash, apache corn, chilies, summer squash, basil, melons, and other fruits and vegetables throughout the state of arizona.