Key Takeaways:
- The Maryland Department of Agriculture will distribute $400,000 in funds from the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program to six projects aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of Maryland’s specialty crops.
- These projects focus on supporting immigrant farmers, expanding consumer education, improving food safety compliance, increasing demand for Maryland-grown specialty crops, and supporting local wineries.
- The grants are part of an ongoing effort to diversify and strengthen Maryland’s agriculture industry through targeted support for specialty crops.
Funding to Enhance Maryland’s Specialty Crop Sector
The Maryland Department of Agriculture has announced that six projects will receive funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). These funds are intended to bolster the competitiveness of Maryland’s specialty crops, which are becoming an increasingly vital part of the state’s agricultural industry.
Significance of Specialty Crops in Maryland
Maryland Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks highlighted the importance of these crops, stating, “Maryland’s specialty crops are an increasingly critical part of our state’s agriculture industry as more farmers begin to diversify their operations and enter new niche markets. The funds granted by the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program are vital to the success of the specialty crop sector in Maryland, and I am thrilled to announce this year’s six grant recipients.”
Overview of Funded Projects
The projects selected for funding were chosen through a competitive review process involving the Maryland Department of Agriculture and an external review committee comprising representatives from the specialty crop industry, lending institutions, economic development, and producers. The total of $400,000 in grant funds will be distributed among the following six projects:
- AfriThrive ($30,237.84): This project will support immigrant and refugee beginner farmers in three Maryland counties, helping them to cultivate and preserve African specialty crops. AfriThrive will offer culturally sensitive technical assistance, build capacity, and develop strategic partnerships to sustain these crops.
- Future Harvest ($35,642.54): Future Harvest will create a digital library of marketing materials to help farmers reach a larger consumer base. This resource will educate consumers on storing, preparing, cooking, processing, or freezing mid-Atlantic specialty crops and will be developed in collaboration with other regional marketing entities.
- Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Food Quality Assurance Program ($129,057.10): In partnership with the University of Maryland and the Agriculture Law Education Initiative (ALEI), this program will provide food safety training and support to specialty crop producers. The project will focus on compliance with the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act’s Produce Safety Rule and successful completion of GAP audits.
- Maryland’s Best ($134,976): The Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Maryland’s Best program will use these funds to increase sales and consumer demand for Maryland-grown specialty crops through targeted advertising, consumer and wholesale promotions, networking events, and partnerships with specialty crop producer associations.
- Maryland Public Television’s “Maryland Farm & Harvest” ($35,000): Funding will support coverage of specialty crops in the 12th season of this agriculture series, educating viewers about crop production and introducing them to Maryland farmers. The show will also provide recipes for specialty crops.
- Maryland Wineries Association ($35,086): In partnership with the University of Maryland, this project will support grape cultivar research, host annual tastings to understand grape characteristics, and update the Maryland Wineries Association’s website to share research results with vineyard managers and winery owners.
For more information, read here.
