The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced $79.4 million in funding available to strengthen and expand new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products. The funding is made available through three grant programs administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service.

The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funds innovative projects designed to support the expanding specialty crop food sector and explore new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products. SCBGP funds are allocated to U.S. states and territories based on a formula that considers both specialty crop acreage and production value. Interested applicants should apply directly through their state departments of agriculture. A listing of state contacts is available on the AMS website.

The Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP) supports efforts by state departments of agriculture, state colleges and universities, and other appropriate state agencies to market agricultural products of their state. Funds will support research projects to address challenges and opportunities in marketing, transporting and distributing U.S. agricultural products domestically and internationally.

The Acer Access and Development Program (Acer) supports market development and promotion projects to improve consumer knowledge, awareness and understanding of the maple syrup industry and its products. Acer also supports education projects to advance producer and landowner awareness of available research, educational resources and natural resource sustainability practices affecting the maple syrup industry and its products.

Applications must be submitted electronically through www.grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due dates established in the respective grant programs Request for Applications. For more information about SCBGP grant eligibility and previously funded projects, visit the SCBGP web page or contact Carly Borgmeier at carlym.borgmeier@usda.gov. For more information about FSMIP and Acer grant eligibility and previously funded projects, visit the FSMIP web page, Acer web page or contact Martin Rosier at martin.rosier@usda.gov.