Grants Help Colorado Specialty Crops

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BROOMFIELD, Colo. – Nine grants totaling nearly $840,000 have been awarded through the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s 2014 Specialty Crops Program. Specialty crops include fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture). Funds are received by the Colorado Department of Agriculture from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, which is aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of specialty crops.

“The diversity of crops Colorado produces is staggering, and growers continue to explore new varieties,” said Tom Lipetzky, Colorado Department of Agriculture Markets Division Director. “These USDA funds help Colorado producers conduct research and develop new markets for specialty crops.”

Fiscal year 2014 funds were recently approved by the USDA for the following projects:

  1. Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, Loveland, CO, to strengthen consumer and grower outreach and education and increase buyer demand for Colorado fruit and vegetables.
  2. Colorado Potato Administrative Committee, Monte Vista, CO, to develop a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing program to test potato fields for Potato Virus YN strains and other strains of Potato Virus Y.
  3. Colorado Proud, Broomfield, CO, for promotion of Colorado specialty crops using the Colorado Proud logo.
  4. Colorado Department of Agriculture, Broomfield, CO, for development of a Colorado Pavilion at the Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit Expo in 2015.
  5. Colorado Wine Industry Development Board, Broomfield, CO, to compile, digitize and catalog research documents and results pertaining to growing grapes in Colorado.
  6. Pueblo County, Pueblo, CO, to brand and promote Pueblo chile.
  7. Colorado Potato Administrative Committee, Monte Vista, CO, to promote Colorado potatoes in the Mexican market.
  8. Fort Lewis College, Durango, CO, to enhance marketing and production of the Old Fort Market Garden Incubator Program.
  9. Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, to support small acreage, socially disadvantaged and beginning specialty crop producers and to fund a specialty crops coordinator.

To learn more about the Colorado Specialty Crops Program visit www.colorado.gov/ag/specialtycropgrant or call (303) 869-9173.

Filed Under: AgricultureBusinessCitycommunityCountyEconomyEmploymentEnvironmentFeaturedMedia ReleaseProwers County

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