The virginia department of agriculture and consumer services will enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through leveraging efforts to market and promote specialty crops; assisting producers…

The Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service awarded the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services $610,350.36 on September 30, 2025, under the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (CFDA 10.170) to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through research, development, marketing, and outreach activities statewide.

The recipient will deliver six research projects and one education and outreach project targeting bok choy, cabbage, broccoli, brassica, strawberries, and apples throughout Virginia. The award supports efforts to address local, regional, and national challenges confronting specialty crop producers by leveraging market promotion, producer assistance with research and development, and expanded availability and access initiatives.

The period of performance runs through September 29, 2028. Work is performed in Virginia. The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program awards funding for three calendar years to state departments of agriculture to enhance specialty crop competitiveness through competitive merit review conducted in three steps: initial qualification screening, external peer technical review, and administrative review by AMS to verify alignment with statutory purpose and budget allowability.

The virginia department of agriculture and consumer services 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 6 research projects and 1 education and outreach project, to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops including BOK choy, cabbage, broccoli, brassica, strawberries, and apples throughout the state of virginia.