A file photo of Bethany Nay showing a donut peach she is selling for Tagge’s Fruit and Veggie Farms at Peach Days in Brigham City on Friday Sept. 9, 2023.
TALORSVILLE — The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) has $342,390 to be awarded to lucky producers who are growing specialty crops. The 2024 Specialty Crop Block Grant will be awarded through a competitive grant process. Each proposal may request up to $70,000.
The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) began in 2020 and is a as a competitive grant program operated by the UDAF that administers federal funds from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service.
The grant is open to Utah producers, private businesses, schools, trade associations, non-profits, farming and ranching co-ops, etc.
Utah-grown specialty crops including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, horticulture, nursery crops and others may qualify for the grant.
“Utah has a diverse and economically significant specialty crop industry. Utah is the nation’s second leading producer of tart cherries and its climate produces some of the most desirable stone fruit in the nation,” said Craig Buttars, UDAF Commissioner. “The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food is proud to administer this grant program and looks forward to innovative developments in the state’s specialty crop industries.”
Applications for grant funds should describe how the project potentially affects and produces measurable outcomes for the specialty crop industry and/or the public rather than a single organization, institution, or individual.
This year, UDAF will be looking for projects that are designed to enhance the competitiveness of Utah-grown specialty crops by (1) leveraging efforts to market & promote specialty crops; (2) assisting producers with research & development relevant to specialty crops; (3) expanding availability & access to specialty crops; and, (4) addressing local, regional, & national challenges confronting specialty crop producers.
The application window will be open until April 5, 2024 at 11:59pm. Selected project duration will be September 30, 2024 through September 29, 2027. For more information, contact Allison Ross at [email protected] or visit ag.utah.gov/specialty-crop-blockgrant-program.