Agriculture Department Announces Federal Specialty Crop Grant Recipients

More than $780,000 Awarded to Increase Visibility, Market Share of Pennsylvania Specialty Crops

HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Fifteen Pennsylvania projects were recently awarded $780,328 in federal grants to increase the visibility and market share of the state's produce, nursery, horticultural and nut products, acting Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said today.

The federal grants are part of the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, which was authorized under the federal Farm Bill.

"Pennsylvania farmers provide consumers with an abundant, affordable supply of nutritious fruits, vegetables and other specialty crops," said Redding. "The grants will support local agriculture, increase the competitiveness of small producers, and expand direct marketing opportunities available to specialty crop producers, strengthening our agriculture industry -- Pennsylvania's leading economic enterprise."

The 15 funded projects address a range of priorities in the agriculture industry, including food safety, marketing, nutrition and sustainability.

Grant recipients were selected by a state-appointed specialty crop advisory board and approved by the agriculture secretary. Applications were then collectively submitted for approval to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service.

The grant recipients are:

• American Mushroom Association: $70,000 to enhance and expand the Mushroom Food Safety Initiative;
• Fay-Penn Economic Development Council, Fayette County Food Shed Project: $18,000 to promote and improve access to locally grown fruits and vegetables;
• Pennsylvania Apple Marketing Association: $62,500 to promote Pennsylvania apples;
• Pennsylvania Landscape & Nursery Association: $74,200 to create an online stock guide and, in a separate project, develop the Roadside Green Infrastructure program;
• Pennsylvania Vegetable Marketing & Research Program: $41,000 to develop and enhance the program's Web site and point of purchase supplies;
• Pennsylvania Wine Association: $33,000 to expand the quality and reach of Pennsylvania wines;
• The Pennsylvania State University: $31,000 to research a microbial survey of Pennsylvania surface water used for specialty crop irrigation and development of sampling, handling and shipping procedures for surface water testing;
• The Pennsylvania State University: $15,000 to research controlling tomato disease in organic and sustainable production;
• The Pennsylvania State University: $50,000 to construct high tunnel technology on vacant or underutilized parcels of land in Philadelphia to produce and market nutritious fruits and vegetables year-round while promoting economic development, workforce training and youth empowerment;
• The Pennsylvania State University: $80,000 to research high-risk pathogens of specialty crops; and
• Welch's/National Grape Cooperative: $62,000 to implement a sustainable viticulture program.
  

Another $248,628 was awarded to the state Agriculture Department's bureaus of food distribution, food safety and market development. The grants will allow the bureaus, respectively, to promote the best agricultural practices, continue outreach and educational support of Good Agricultural Practices, and to support the PA Preferred branding program.

In total, the U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded 55 block grants totaling $49 million for 745 projects in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

For a complete summary of grants, visit www.ams.usda.gov/scgp.

Media contact: Nicole L. C. Bucher, 717-787-5085