Public paper · October 14, 2026 · Farms desk
USDA Awards $86.6 Million in Specialty Crop Block Grants for 609 Projects in 56 States and Territories, From Michigan Apples to Florida Mangoes
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said on October 13, 2026 that its Agricultural Marketing Service is awarding $86.6 million through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program for about 609 state projects across 56 states and territories, supporting growers of fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, with Florida at more than $4.3 million and Michigan at more than $2.64 million.
noticenearby.com/papers/usda-specialty-crop-block-grants-86-6-million-609-projects.pdf
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on October 13, 2026 that it is awarding $86.6 million in grants through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is funding about 609 state projects across 56 states and territories.
USDA says the states and territories are making subawards to projects that address the needs of U.S. producers of fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops. The subawards go to projects that enhance food safety, support research, develop new seed varieties and crops, fight pests and diseases, teach communities about healthy eating, and make it easier and cheaper to get specialty crops to market.
"Today I am proud to announce USDA will be investing more than $86 million across 56 states and territories through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program," Secretary Brooke L. Rollins said in the release.
State examples from USDA
- Florida: more than $4.3 million for research, education and outreach, and marketing of mangoes, blueberries, sweet corn and muscadine grapes.
- Michigan: more than $2.64 million in subawards for apples, asparagus, beans, blueberries, Christmas trees, herbs, mushrooms and grapes.
- Texas: more than $2 million for grapes, watermelons, pecans, onions and spinach.
- Georgia: more than $1.7 million across 2 research projects, 9 education and outreach projects and 2 marketing projects for pecans, blueberries, peppers, strawberries, peaches, apples, Vidalia onions and citrus.
- North Carolina: more than $1.5 million for sweet potatoes, fir trees, tomatoes, blueberries, apples, canary melons and centipede grass seed.
- Pennsylvania: more than $1.1 million for mushrooms, potatoes and apples.
- Ohio: more than $800,000 for apples, leafy greens, brassicas, herbs, maple syrup, honey and nuts.
How growers can find the projects
USDA did not list every award in the release. It says the complete list of funded projects is on the AMS SCBGP webpage. Because the states and territories make the subawards, growers and groups looking for a specific project can also check with their state department of agriculture.
Source
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, press release No. 0134.26, "USDA Announces $86.6 Million Investment into the U.S. Specialty Crop Industry," October 13, 2026 (usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2026/10/13/usda-announces-866-million-investment-us-specialty-crop-industry).
- USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and grants pages (ams.usda.gov/grants).
Notes and sources
- Image: Tomatoes ripen on the vine at an Indianapolis urban farm visited by USDA, October 28, 2021 (file photo, illustrative of specialty crops). Photo: USDA via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain).
- Author: Ryan Standley / Record of Sale, LLC / Notice Nearby.
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Not legal advice. Not a newspaper. Not Legal Publication. Record of Sale, LLC (Oregon).