Pennsylvania wins $1M grant for specialty crop

By Blake Jackson

The Shapiro Administration announced that Pennsylvania has received $915,758 in federal funds to support 10 projects aimed at enhancing the visibility, quality, and competitiveness of the state's specialty crops.

An additional $94,363 was awarded to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to administer the program, bringing Pennsylvania's total funding to over $1.01 million.

These funds are part of the $72.9 million allocated nationwide through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.

“Pennsylvania is a national leader in mushrooms, apples, peaches, flowers, and other specialty crops,” said Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “Investments like this keep our growers at the top of their field, in demand by consumers, and at the cutting edge of technology to stay ahead of disease, pest, and climate threats. These investments demonstrate that the Shapiro Administration is working with Biden Administration to keep Pennsylvania farms feeding the world.”

Governor Josh Shapiro's administration has prioritized agriculture through bipartisan budgets that invest in innovation, reduce red tape, and enhance the competitiveness of Pennsylvania's agricultural businesses.

The 2024-25 budget includes $13 million for the PA Farm Bill, which supports specialty crop development and infrastructure.

“We are happy to once again partner with Pennsylvania on the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt.

The grants fund projects focused on research, marketing, apprenticeships, and sustainability for various specialty crops, including mushrooms, apples, potatoes, and others.

Grantees, amounts received, and project titles include:

• Rodale Institute, Berks County: Understanding economic potential for organic hazelnut production systems in Pennsylvania ($122,000)
• Penn State University, Centre County: Southern blight: An emerging disease threatening the PA tree fruit industry ($89,943)
• Penn State University, Centre County: Characterization and diagnosis of specialty crop pathogens ($75,000)
• Penn State University, Centre County: Creating new market opportunities with high-value Italian specialty vegetables ($80,235)
• Penn State University, Centre County: Novel spectral robot for early-stage disease detection and treatment in mushroom farms ($99,926)
• Penn State University, Statewide: Screening cucurbit varieties for drought tolerance, pest resistance, and pollination efficiency ($81,003)
• PA Cooperative Potato Growers, Dauphin County: Optimize cultural management practices for leading potato varieties in Pennsylvania ($101,000)
• LEAF Project, Perry County: Diversified Vegetable Pre-Apprenticeship Program ($96,606)
• Norris Square Neighborhood Project, Philadelphia County: Supporting urban agriculture and community food systems ($71,887)

Find more investments in a strong future for Pennsylvania agriculture at shapirobudget.pa.gov.

Photo Credit: usda