2008 PRESS RELEASES
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October 17, 2008
OCTOBER 24 IS THE DEADLINE FOR PRODUCER GROUPS TO APPLY FOR SPECIALTY CROP COMPETITIVE GRANTS
Contact: Marion Horsley, 804.225.3820
“Don’t be afraid to apply.” This advice comes from Paul Estabrook regarding USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Specialty Crop Block Grant funds. Estabrook was the recipient of a specialty crop grant in 2007 and he has nothing but praise for the program. With his grant funds, Estabrook developed a menu-driven program to help specialty crop producers offer Internet product sales by creating their own Web sites. With the addition of Internet sales, producers can broaden the market for small volume and specialty crops.
This year, according to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), agricultural associations, industry groups, community-based organizations and producer groups that seek to improve the competitiveness of specialty crops in Virginia are eligible to submit proposals for grants up to $25,000. The deadline for returning applications to VDACS is Friday, October 24, 2008.
Specialty crops are categorized as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and nursery crops (including floriculture) and are not typically covered by traditional crop insurance. Processed foods are eligible as long as they enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Specialty crops are not considered standard commodities such as corn, wheat or soybeans. A number of crops do not qualify for a specialty crop competitive grant, including cotton, feed crops (corn, hay, oats, barley), flax seed, food grains (rye or wheat), livestock and dairy products, eggs, oil crops (soybeans, sunflower seeds, canola), peanuts, range grasses, sod, tobacco, turf and aquaculture.
In determining grant recipients, priority will be given to proposals which help farmers transition to high value initiatives utilizing eligible specialty crops, find new ways to add value to specialty agricultural products, adopt innovative methods to market specialty agricultural products or have the potential for transferability within rural Virginia.
Specialty Crop Competitive Grant proposals need to be specific and explain how an association, industry group or organization will use the Specialty Crop Block Grant funds to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops.
Applications are available online and by contacting Melissa Ball via melissa.ball@vdacs.virginia.gov or at 102 Governor Street, Richmond, VA 23219.