More than $1.5 million is being awarded to Michigan’s specialty crops through USDA’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. 

“This group of awardees really speaks to the diversity and scope of Michigan agriculture,” says Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Director Jamie Clover Adams, who made the announcement.

“No matter how much time I spend in this job, it never ceases to amaze me how our growers and processors continue to elevate and refine their practices. And these specialty block grants are an essential resource for many of Michigan’s agriculture businesses that want to stay at the forefront of their industry.”  

The grants, with a maximum award of $100,000 each, enhance the competitiveness of the state’s specialty crops. Below is the list of grantees: 

• Cherry Central, $89,900, to enhancing cranberry processing innovation to expand U.S. and international markets

• Cherry Marketing Institute, $60,000, to partner with online influencers to maintain Montmorency tart cherries competitive advantage

• Crosshatch Center for Art & Ecology, $80,268, for specialty crop producer education at the Northern Michigan and Farm to School conferences

• Eastern Market Corp., $100,000, to grow Eastern Market farm training acceleration program

• Hops Growers of Michigan, $92,167, to create Michigan hop growers state specific downy mildew recommendations

• Michigan Apple Committee, $100,000, to enhance competitiveness of Michigan apples through consumer education online and in print

• Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board, $90,490, for integrated insect, disease and groundcover management in asparagus 

• Michigan Bean Commission, $99,400, for process development and consumer acceptance of ready-to-serve fresh-like beans for retail and foodservice markets 

• Michigan Carrot Committee, $78,427, to assess fungicide sensitivity among carrot blight pathogens

• Michigan Cherry Committee, $99,949, to refine spotted wing drosophila management practices in Michigan tart cherries

• Michigan Christmas Tree Association, $72,173, to study to determine the benefits of char for microbes, weed, or conifer seedlings

• Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association, $83,834, to gain herbaceous perennials market share for Michigan

• Michigan Potato Industry Commission, $100,000, to optimize fall cover crop fertility management for vegetable cropping systems 

• Michigan Tree Fruit Commission, $100,000, to use sorting technology to advance the competitiveness of Michigan’s apple industry

• Michigan Vegetable Council, $98,609, to optimize fall cover crop fertility management for vegetable cropping systems

• Michigan Wine Collaborative, $89,500, to support wine industry through increased awareness, consumption, sales and sustainability 

• Monroe County Community College, $79,000, for socially disadvantaged community partnership project

Source: MDARD