Specialty Crop Block Grant Program - Farm Bill
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Program Background
The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill) amended the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004. Under the amended Act, the Secretary of Agriculture is directed to make grants to States for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012 to be used by State departments of agriculture to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops.
Eligible Applicants and Projects
State and/or local organizations, producer associations, academia, community based organizations, and other specialty crops stakeholders are eligible to apply. SCBGP-FB grant funds will be awarded for projects of up to 3 years duration. Examples of projects aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of specialty crops include, but are not limited to: Increasing child and adult nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty crops; participation of industry representatives at meetings of international standard setting bodies in which the U.S. government participates; improving efficiency and reducing costs of distribution systems; assisting all entities in the specialty crop distribution chains in developing “Good Agricultural Practices”, “Good Handling Practices”, “Good Manufacturing Practices”, and in cost-share arrangements for funding audits of such systems for small farmers, packers and processors; investing in specialty crop research, including organic research to focus on conservation and environmental outcomes; enhancing food safety; developing new and improved seed varieties and specialty crops; pest and disease control; and sustainability. SCBGP-FB funds shall be used for projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops and benefit the specialty crop industry as a whole. Grant funds will not be awarded for projects that directly benefit a particular commercial product or provide a profit to a single organization, institution or individual. Projects must enhance specialty crop industry competitiveness. Applications for grant funds should show how the project potentially impacts and produces measurable outcomes for the specialty crop industry and/or the public rather than a single organization, institution, or individual.
Good Handling Practices and Good Agricultural Practices (GHP/GAP)
2011 Arizona Specialty Crop Guide
Your guide to Arizona Farmers’ Markets, U-Pick Farms, Local Harvest Schedules, and more.
For Applicants:
Appendix B - Application Cover Sheet
Resources:
For Grantees:
Post Award Presentation (PDF)
Quarterly Budget Report Template - Appendix A to Grant Award Agreement
Quarterly Activity Report - Appendix B to Grant Award Agreement
Quarterly Narrative Report Template- Appendix C to Grant Award Agreement
Quarterly Performance Report Requirements - Appendix D to Grant Award Agreement
Final Performance Report Requirements - Appendix E to Grant Award Agreement
Grant Award Agreement Amendment Form
Reimbursement Request Form (Non-University)
Questions?
Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Coordinator
1688 W Adams St Phoenix, AZ 85007
(602) 542-3262 (602) 542-0972