Specialty crops offer farmers the opportunity to create a higher-value future. Colorado produces a wide variety of specialty crops, from peaches and apples to hops and chiles. There's financial opportunity to help get further support for this diverse part of the state's agriculture.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture is seeking proposals for the Specialty Crops Block Grant Program. In the program, specialty crops are defined as fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, and nursery crops including floriculture and sod.

In announcing the program for 2017, Glenda Mostek, CDA marketing specialist, said, "This grant program provides a great opportunity for producer groups, researchers and organizations to improve how they grow, process and market specialty crops." She added that the agency wants to see a wide variety of applications to the program.

Support for a range of crops
This program offers support for a wide range of crops and has worked with dozens of organizations to help implement both research and consumer promotions. For example, Fort Lewis Collage was granted funds to help evaluate high-altitude production of hops varieties, and create grower alliances to assist with production and marketing. The rising craft beer market is a vibrant buyer for hops, and this program is aimed to support that effort.

Another grant went to Slow Food Denver to help create youth farmers markets to support the effort to provide "real food" to more people.

The grant program is funded by USDA, which partners with state departments of agriculture to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crop producers in a range of areas including marketing, promotion, education, research, trade and nutrition.

For 2017, CDA anticipates that about $500,000 will be available for grants, and approved projects could start in early 2018. The program is open to applications from producer groups, organizations and associations, and also to state and local organizations, academia and other specialty crops stakeholders. Applicants may apply either as a single entity or in combined efforts. However, grants must impact the specialty crop industry as a whole, and cannot be used to solely enhance an individual farming operation or business.

For 2017, the process has changed. The initial phase of grant selection will involve shorter concept proposals. Those proposals must be received electronically by the close of business (5 p.m.) on March 1. For program guidelines and an application, visit colorado.gov/ag/specialtycropgrant  or call 303-869-9173.

Source: Colorado Department of Agriculture