USDA Awards $1.1M To Promote N.Y. Specialty Crops

17 Projects Receive Federal Funds to Ensure Long-Term Viability of NY Fruits & Vegetables

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today announced $1.1 million for 17 projects that will enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in New York State. Funded and approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Specialty Crop Block Grants help ensure long-term viability of specialty crops grown in New York State, which include fruits, vegetables, maple, honey and horticultural products.

“As successful and diverse as New York’s agricultural industry is, it is not without challenges, nor opportunities for improvement,” the Commissioner said. “We in New York are once again appreciative of the strong support we receive from our members of Congress in securing these specialty crop funds. These federal funds have been instrumental in the past in addressing problems and implementing solutions that better our industry as a whole, and we expect this next round of projects to do the same.”

The competitively awarded projects focus on two general categories that reflect input the Department received from industry stakeholders, which are research and grower education, and consumer outreach and market development. A total of $600,000 was awarded for eight research and grower education projects; and $235,000 for four consumer outreach and market development projects. In addition to those projects, the Department will be using $293,682 to implement five statewide initiatives that will positively influence all specialty crop commodities throughout the State. A list of the awarded projects is attached.

A total of 42 applications requesting over $3.2 million were received by the Department for funding. The awarded grants, which were competitively chosen, average $70,000 each and do not require matching funds.

The Specialty Crop Block Grants were available to not-for-profit organizations, government entities and educational institutions. Projects were required to benefit a commodity or the industry as a whole and could not benefit a particular commercial product or profit to a single individual or entity. A committee made up of 17 industry representatives with expertise in a wide range of subject areas was assembled to provide technical review and comments for proposals received. The committee and the Department strongly considered the project’s impact on the industry and ability to achieve measurable results in the review and ranking process. USDA gave the final approval to fund the chosen projects.

Federal funding for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program has increased dramatically for New York in recent years, from approximately $129,000 in 2006 to over $1.25 million today. The Federal Farm Bill provides $55 million in funding each year for this program from 2010 through 2012, making New York eligible for a total of approximately $2.4 million over the next two years. Of that, the Department can use up to 10 percent of the funds for administrative and indirect costs.

New York State produces a wide range of specialty crops that include fruits and vegetables, wine, maple syrup, horticulture and nursery crops. Specialty crops generate $1.39 billion annually in New York and make up one-third of the State’s total agricultural receipts. They also rank high nationally in both production and economic value. For example, New York is the second largest state in the nation for apples and pumpkins; third for grapes, cabbage, cauliflower and maple syrup; and fourth for tart cherries, pears, snap beans and onions.

Source: NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets