The information website by, for and about
the tomato processing industry globally

California: latest grants in specialty crop funding

19/10/2017

Press release
Tomato Products Wellness Council
California,
North America
${printContents} `); printWindow.document.close(); printWindow.focus(); printWindow.print(); printWindow.close(); }); });
In early October, California received USD 19.2 million out of approximately USD 60.6 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Block grants awarded nationwide.
The SCBGP provides grants to state departments of agriculture to fund “projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops, defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture)”. “This is an essential program for California in meeting a state priority – helping our specialty crop growers remain competitive,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “The success of this grant program has generated widespread support for continued robust funding in the Farm Bill.”

The program will fund 54 projects, awarding grants ranging from USD 50,000 to USD 450,000 to non-profit and for-profit organizations, government entities, and colleges and universities. Selected through a competitive process, these projects focus on increasing sales of specialty crops by leveraging the California Grown identity; increasing consumption by expanding the specialty crop consumer market, improving product availability, and providing nutritional education for consumers; training growers to equip them for current and future challenges; and conducting research on conservation and environmental outcomes, pest control and disease, and organic and sustainable production practices.
Additionally, there are fixed-amount awards to fund projects that address workforce concerns throughout the specialty crop supply chain, including conforming to labor regulations, securing skilled and unskilled workers, and training the existing workforce to effectively utilize new technologies.

Here are following some of the projects awarded through the grant.
Tomato Product Wellness Council, USD 450,000 
California growers produce more than 98 percent of the United States’ processing tomatoes – a tomato variety used in sauce, ketchup, paste, and other products. Approximately 75 percent of all tomatoes consumed in the United States are processing tomatoes. Still, the United States demand for tomatoes is flat and vegetable consumption has declined seven percent since 2009 (Produce for Better Health Foundation). Coupled with declining prices, California’s tomato growers need to build back consumer interest and boost profitability to their farms. The Tomato Product Wellness Council which represents California tomato growers/processors seeks to accomplish this with a goal of a launching a consumer marketing campaign aimed at millennials and Hispanics, the two demographic groups with strongest purchase potential. Project activities include message development; marketing and public relations campaign; and grower/industry outreach. The project outcome is a conservative sales price increase of two percent by 2020 measured by crop price reports. The support of California Tomato Growers Association and processors help with the success of the project.

Stanislaus Farm Supply, USD 431,000 
San Joaquin Valley (SJV) specialty crop growers have endured a five-year drought and recent flooding, both posing long-term impacts on soil health and water quality. Stanislaus Farm Supply, a co-op serving approximately 9,000 specialty crop growers, seeks to expand a prior successful grower education program through this new venture with expanded workshops, trainings at industry events, and new educational materials. The goal is to convert 900 specialty crop growers (among which tomato (row crop)), and other fruit and vegetable crops) into adopting better input methods for greater financial savings. This project has strong regional support.

The 2017 SCBGP project abstracts are available online at:
https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/grants
See also:
https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/Specialty_Crop_Competitiveness_Grants/
and
https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/Specialty_Crop_Competitiveness_Grants/FFY2017.html

Sources: CFDA