Utilizing a federal program working to enhance and support the competitiveness of the nation’s specialty crops, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is issuing a request for proposals through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.

It is a USDA Agricultural Marketing Service program, so funding is contingent on approval and passage of the federal farm bill. Grant proposals must be submitted in the MiAgGrants System by 5 p.m. Feb. 6.  

An informational webinar is set for 9 a.m. Jan. 6. Visit this website for the link. No registration is required.

The grants have a maximum award of $100,000 for research proposals, and $125,000 for marketing, training and education proposals. Specialty crops are defined as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops, including floriculture. A full list of specialty crops can be found on USDA’s website.

Specialty Crop Block Grant funding priorities are:

Market enhancement to promote specialty crops. This includes market expansion, availability and access to specialty crops; consumer marketing campaigns; feasibility surveys; economic impact studies; and farm to institution, including but not limited to restaurants, food service, grocery stores, schools and institutions.

Research and development relevant to specialty crops. This includes plant health and pest management and farm sustainability.

Training and education addressing local, regional and national challenges confronting specialty crop producers. This includes enhancing food safety; consumer awareness education to increase child and adult nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty crops; environmental sustainability; conservation; and workforce and labor across the supply chain.

Acceptable proposal activities include but are not limited to promotion, marketing, research, nutrition, trade enhancement, food safety, food security, plant health programs, education, increased knowledge and consumption, increased innovation, improved efficiency and reduced costs of distribution systems, environmental concerns and conservation, product development, good agricultural practices, good handling practices, and good manufacturing practices.

Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations; local, state and federal government entities; and for-profit organizations. The organizations must be legal entities recognized by the Internal Revenue Service, and applicants must reside or conduct their business in Michigan.

Proposals should demonstrate how the project will potentially produce measurable impacts for the specialty crop industry as a whole and not benefit only a specific product or a single organization, institution or individual.

Those interested in applying for the grant program should visit the program website for additional details. All applications must be submitted through the MiAgGrants System. The grants are contingent on USDA’s approval of federal funding expected in February 2025.

Source: MDARD