WSDA Receives $4.8 Million in Specialty Crop Grant Funds

OLYMPIA, Wash. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) $4.8 million through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program to support specialty crops in 2023. The grant will fund 21 projects.

Among the projects is more than $249,000 in funding for the Washington State Tree Fruit Association (WSTFA). The WSTFA, in collaboration with the Washington State Department of Agriculture’s Technical Services and Education Program (TSEP) and Washington State University (WSU), created the Agricultural Leadership Program (ALP), developed to enhance the leadership skills of farm owners, supervisors and managers.

This project will expand ALP to the entire agricultural industry due to interest expressed by other specialty crop groups in the state. The WSTFA and partners will identify individuals with training abilities, knowledge and experience of Washington’s agriculture to prepare them to become bilingual trainers that can deliver industry-relevant leadership topics to farm owners, supervisors and managers for the ALP.

Additional funded projects focus on areas such as research, marketing, training and education.

“I’m excited about the Specialty Crop Block Grant funding awarded this year and the opportunities it presents for Washington specialty crop producers,” said Washington State Department of Agriculture Director Derek Sandison. “Innovative projects like the ones funded through the Specialty Crop Block Grant program are critical to ensuring Washington specialty crops remain competitive locally, nationally and internationally.”

WSDA selected the projects through a competitive two-phase process. The projects include efforts to control pests and diseases, improve food safety and minimize recalls, train and educate growers and food processors, improve innovative technologies and market specialty crops. USDA approved and announced the final specialty crop project list earlier this week.

The award continues nearly two-decades of history of USDA support for Washington specialty-crops.

Requests for proposals for WSDA’s 2024 grant cycle will be available in late September at agr.wa.gov/grants. For information regarding Washington’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program requirements or eligibility, email program manager Leisa Schumaker or call 360-485-1255.