News Release

(JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.) – The Missouri Department of Agriculture is now accepting proposals for funding through the USDA’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Applications are available through late March for individuals, community organizations and research institutions working to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Missouri.

Specialty crops are defined by the USDA as fruits and vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, honey, horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture. The Department’s goal is to use the grant program to expand local, regional and international markets and distribution channels for specialty crops, as well as for education, marketing and infrastructure development.

Concept paper applications for the upcoming fiscal year must be submitted to the Department no later than March 16, 2015. The concept papers will be evaluated and selected applicants will be invited to submit detailed grant proposals in April. Those proposals will be due to the Department in May for inclusion in Missouri’s state plan. A list of previously funded projects is available on the Department’s website.

Applications are available online at http://agriculture.mo.gov/abd/financial/specialtycrop.php. For more information on the Missouri Department of Agriculture and its programs, visit the Department online at agriculture.mo.gov.