Date: Wednesday, August 23, 2023
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WASHINGTON, August 23, 2023—The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today awarded over $655,000 in Fiscal Year 2023 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funding to Maine. With this grant, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry (MEDACF) will fund projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crop products and create new market opportunities for the state’s specialty crop producers.
“With this year’s Specialty Crop Block Grant funding, Maine is investing in innovative projects that will help address the needs of specialty crop producers within the region,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. “The funded projects will also further USDA’s efforts to ensure U.S. specialty crop products remain competitive in markets across the nation and abroad.”
Through the SCBGP, the MEDACF will fund nine projects. Among MEDACF’s projects, is Meeting House Herb Farm’s efforts to increase sustainability of Maine farms with herbs. Additional funded projects focus in areas such as protecting and enhancing the safety and quality of Maine wild blueberries, building specialty crop markets through immigrant education programs, new tools for increasing apple production profitability, produce safety improvements, developing a farmers’ market price reporting tool for Maine specialty crop growers, and piloting wholesale markets for Maine cut flowers.
"These grant awards provide important opportunities for Maine farmers through specialty crop marketing, research, education, and innovation," said MEDACF Agricultural Resource Development Director and Maine Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Coordinator Michelle Webb.
The funding to Maine is part of a total of $72.9 million in non-competitive FY 2023 SCBGP funding awarded to 54 states, territories, and the District of Columbia. The SCBGP funding supports farmers growing specialty crops, including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and nursery crops. USDA’s support will strengthen U.S. specialty crop production and markets, ensuring an abundant, affordable supply of highly nutritious fruits, vegetables, and other specialty crops, which are vital to the health and well-being of all Americans.
The funding for the SCBGP grants is authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill and FY2023 funding is awarded for a three-year period beginning Sept. 30, 2023. Since 2006, USDA has invested over $1 billion through the SCBGP to fund nearly 12,000 projects that have increased the long-term successes of producers and enhanced marketing opportunities for U.S. specialty crops products.
More information about these awards is available on this webpage: 2023 SCBGP Awarded Grants (pdf).
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