Source: NCDA&CS, 10/3/14

Nearly $1.2 million in grant funding will be awarded to nine statewide organizations through the federal Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced.

The program aims to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in the marketplace. It is managed by the department and funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the 2014 farm bill.

“We’re so pleased to be able to award this funding to nonprofits, universities and government agencies,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “The selected programs give a snapshot of the variety of specialty crops grown in North Carolina.”
Selected programs range from developing a craft cider industry using N.C. apples to improving black-truffle production and enhancing promotion of turfgrass sod.

Following are the grant recipients: Appalachian State University, Carolina Farm Stewardship Association in Pittsboro, Farmer Foodshare in Chapel Hill, N.C. Christmas Tree Association, N.C. Nursery and Landscape Association, N.C. State University, N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, N.C. Sod Producers Association and N.C. Vegetable Growers Association.

For more information about the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and to see a list of funded projects, go to www.NCSpecialtyCropGrant.org.