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Specialty Crop Multi-State Program

ANNOUNCEMENT

CALIFORNIA AWARDED MORE THAN $4 MILLION TO SUPPORT THE SPECIALTY CROP INDUSTRY THROUGH MULTI-STATE INITIATIVES

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is pleased to announce that five projects submitted by California were selected for funding for the 2021 Specialty Crop Multi-State Program (SCMP). The SCMP is a federal grant program offered by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service. SCMP strengthens food safety; seeks new ways to address plant pests, disease, and other crop-specific issues; and increases marketing opportunities for fruits, vegetables, tree nuts and dried fruits to horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture. Funding is awarded competitively to state departments of agriculture that partner with stakeholder organizations in two or more states.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture will partner with:

• The University of California, Davis, Cornell University, University of Minnesota, and University of Maryland to enhance specialty crop seed germination, seeding vigor, and pest management using cold plasma technology. Awarded $915,263.
• Pollinator Partnership, Oregon State University, Washington State University, Michigan State University, and University of Vermont to optimize the habitat to support pollinators and reduce pests: removing barriers to habitat adoption in highbush blueberry. Awarded $554,663.
• The University of California, Davis, and Texas A&M to understand and improve nitrogen use efficiency in spinach. Awarded $795,194.
• The University of California, Davis, University of California, Agriculture & Natural Resources, University of Washington, Utah State University, and University of Arizona to evaluate and monitor potential energy saving, water use, ecological and horticultural characteristics of vine plants across different climates and latitudes. Awarded $878,971.
• The University of California, Davis, Oregon Wine Board, and Treasury Wine Estates to investigate remediation of smoke impacted grape juice and wine through the development of unique phenol glycosidases and resins for volatile phenol removal. Awarded $871,052.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The SCMP is a federal grant program offered by USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). The purpose of the SCMP is to competitively award funds to projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops by funding collaborative, multi-state projects that address regional or national level specialty crop issues, including food safety, plant pests and disease, research, crop-specific projects addressing common issues, and marketing and promotion. Specialty crops include fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture).

FUNDING AND DURATION

Grant awards will range from $250,000 to $1 million per project and projects may last for up to three years.

ELIGIBILITY AND EXCLUSIONS

Specialty crop producer associations and groups, other state agencies, Tribal government entities, universities, nonprofits, and other stakeholder groups and organizations are eligible to apply. All SCMP proposals must include at least two organizations (referred to as "multi-state partners") with substantive involvement in the project, and the multi-state partners must be located in two different states to qualify for the program.

QUESTIONS

A list of FAQs is located here: 2021 SCMP Frequently Asked Questions. Prospective applicants may contact CDFA’s Office of Grants Administration at grants@cdfa.ca.gov for additional information. Please stipulate in the subject line that your question is specific to the SCMP program.