The U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service awarded the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce $419,995.50 under the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (CFDA 10.170) on September 30, 2025, for a three-year period through September 29, 2028.
The award funds enhancement of specialty crop competitiveness across Mississippi through research, education, outreach, and marketing activities. The recipient will sub-award funds to support eight research projects, one education and outreach project, and one marketing project targeting strawberries, sweet potatoes, kiwifruit, mushrooms, sweet corn, watermelon, and tea cultivars throughout Mississippi. The block grant addresses local, regional, and national challenges confronting specialty crop producers by expanding market access, promoting specialty crops, and advancing research and development relevant to producer competitiveness.
The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce receives this block grant as the state-level eligible entity responsible for agriculture and operates as the prime recipient, passing funds to sub-recipients that conduct project work across the state. Performance takes place in Mississippi.