The period to submit proposals has now ended. All submissions are being evaluated and winning proposals will be announced after the state expenditure plan has been approved by the USDA in August.

Secretary A.G. Kawamura announced the offering of innovative grants to help increase the competitiveness of California’s specialty crops. As part of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004, a USDA program is offering one million to grant recipients, for a maximum of $100,000 each.

The applications are now being reviewed by a panel at CDFA and our final selections will be communicated by letter and other media outlets. These innovative grants will help ensure that our agricultural industry continues to meet and exceed the needs of all Californians who rely on our products, solutions and services to live a healthier and more meaningful life.

Grant applications were due by 2 PM on May 31, 2007. Please use the links below to view the application and other information.

• Introduction Letter from CDFA Secretary A.G. Kawamura (54 KB PDF)
• Purpose of Grants & Areas of Focus
• Specialty Crop Grants Success Stories
• Eligibility for Grants
• Request an Application
• Budget Template Spreadsheet