The michigan department of agriculture and rural development will enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through leveraging work to advertise and promote specialty crops assisting producers…

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development was awarded a $2.16 million Specialty Crop Block Grant from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service under the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program - Farm Bill (CFDA 10.170) for the period of September 30, 2022 through September 29, 2025.

The grant funding will support several projects and sub-awards focused on enhancing the competitiveness and sustainability of Michigan's specialty crop industry. This includes projects to develop disease resistance in chestnuts and hops, promote leadership and food safety certification among specialty crop growers, conduct trade advertising for apples and asparagus, fund research on plant diseases affecting celery and impatiens, and support the Great Lakes Expo promoting specialty crop diversity. Sub-awards were also provided to organizations representing potatoes, cherries, vegetables, and Christmas trees for activities such as integrated pest management, increasing consumer demand, and digital marketing.

The michigan department of agriculture and rural development will enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through leveraging work to advertise and promote specialty crops assisting producers with research and development important to specialty CRO