The USDA has awarded New Jersey agricultural organizations $801,000 in Specialty Crop Block Grants to fund 14 projects aimed at benefiting Garden State crops such as fruits, vegetables, horticulture, and nursery products.
These grants are part of the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) efforts to promote specialty crops nationwide and stimulate food and agriculturally based community economic development. Specialty crops include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, horticulture, nursery crops, and floriculture. These account for more than 80 percent of the $1.5 billion in annual agricultural sales in New Jersey.
“The Specialty Crop Block Grant program not only helps New Jersey promote our ‘Jersey Fresh’ program,” said New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn. “We use these program dollars by supporting additional marketing activities across commodities and organizations to maximize the messaging for local healthy foods. We are pleased to continue this relationship with the USDA.”
To be eligible for the grant, projects must "enhance the competitiveness" of specialty crops. This may include research, promotion, marketing, nutrition, trade enhancement, food safety, food security, plant health programs, education initiatives like "buy local" programs or increased consumption campaigns; innovations; improved efficiency; reduced distribution costs; environmental concerns and conservation efforts; product development; and developing cooperatives.
The New Jersey Department of Agriculture will allocate $390,572 of the funding to support the popular Jersey Fresh program. Most projects focus on agricultural marketing and cooperative development with several research initiatives included.
“We are happy to once again be partnered with New Jersey on the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. “The innovative projects funded through this program will strengthen U.S. specialty crop production and markets and ensure Americans have sustained access to fresh locally grown fruits, vegetables, and other specialty crops while supporting regional growers' long-term success.”
Among the funded projects:
- The Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station had four approved projects including a request for a TraitFinder sensor at P.E. Marucci Center for Blueberry and Cranberry Research.
- Evaluating white grub densities in blueberries planted with grass as a cover crop.
- Addressing new boxwood problems by developing science-based recommendations.
- Enhancing fungicide use efficiency in NJ turfgrass industry through a decision support tool developed by Rutgers University.
Other notable recipients include:
- The New Jersey Beekeepers Association (NJBA) aims to increase public awareness and consumption of locally produced honey.
- The New Jersey Vegetable Growers Association plans an annual convention involving various specialty crop producers.
- The Franklin Food Bank seeks to increase nutrition knowledge through hands-on training programs.
- Geogreens Charities collaborates with The College of New Jersey on research aimed at shortening vegetable growth cycles.
- Rolling Harvest Food Rescue (RHFR) will provide educational workshops focusing on produce identification and nutrition for low-income families.
- The New Jersey Blueberry Growers Association aims to promote local blueberries.
- The Garden State Wine Growers Association will market its Find NJ Wines initiative.
