Through its specialty crop block grant program, the Missouri Department of Agriculture is looking to give money to entities committed to enhancing the competitiveness of specialty crops in the state.
Specialty crops are tree nuts, small-scale fruits and vegetables: the antithesis of large commodity crops.
MDA will consider proposals from a wide array of entities such as universities, individual producers and non-profits.
Grants manager Liz Roberts says one of the main goals of the grants is to bring the industry together.
“We have a lot of specialty crop producers and organizations,” Roberts said. “And we are starting to see movement toward all of these organizations working together more as a whole, and I think the more we can do that, obviously the industry is going to flourish more.”
Columbia Farmers Market received a $50,000 grant from the program in fall 2018.
Executive Director Corrina Smith encourages anyone who is interested in specialty crops to reach out.
“If there is individuals or organizations that have something that’s within the specialty crop realm, it’s a great grant to work with or a great project to work with," Smith said.
The program will award up to $50,000 with a two-year grant period. Entities who want to apply for the grant can do so through the MDA’s website.