Key Takeaways:
- USDA Grant Awarded: Hawai‘i has received $524,773 under the 2024 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
- Funding for Nine Projects: The grant will support nine projects aimed at enhancing the competitiveness and market opportunities for specialty crop producers in Hawai‘i.
- Focus on Specialty Crops: Specialty crops in Hawai‘i include fruits, vegetables, nuts, and horticultural crops, which form a significant part of the state’s agricultural sector.
- Research and Market Expansion: The funded projects will focus on disease-resistant crops, improving production, and expanding markets for local specialty crops.
Hawai‘i Awarded USDA Specialty Crop Grant
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded Hawai‘i $524,773 through the 2024 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). Administered by the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture (HDOA), the funding will support nine projects aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of Hawai‘i’s specialty crops, which include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, horticulture, and nursery crops.
Specialty crops, as defined by the USDA, are crops cultivated or managed for food, medicinal purposes, or aesthetic use. In Hawai‘i, a significant portion of the state’s diversified agriculture falls within this specialty crop category.
Focus on Hawai‘i’s Unique Agricultural Landscape
“Hawai‘i agriculture is uniquely different from the mainland in that specialty crops comprise the majority of our agricultural industry,” said Sharon Hurd, chairperson of the Hawai‘i Board of Agriculture. She emphasized the importance of the block grant program in supporting both food and horticultural production across the state.
The projects receiving funding this year include research on disease-resistant coffee plant varieties, efforts to improve ʻawa and corn production, educational outreach for macadamia nuts and horticultural crops, and expanding market access for various specialty crops.
USDA Support for Specialty Crops
“We are happy to once again be partnered with Hawai‘i on the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. She noted that the innovative projects funded by this program aim to strengthen U.S. specialty crop production and markets, ensuring sustained access to fresh, locally grown products and supporting the long-term success of specialty crop growers in Hawai‘i.
The grant to Hawai‘i is part of a broader USDA initiative, with $72.9 million in non-competitive Fiscal Year 2024 funding distributed to 54 states, territories, and the District of Columbia under the 2018 Farm Bill.
More information can be found here.
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