Hawaii has been allocated $524,773 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through its 2024 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). This funding will support nine projects aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of Hawaii's specialty crops and developing new market opportunities for the state's producers. Specialty crops, as defined by the USDA, include fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and horticulture and nursery crops, encompassing a significant portion of Hawaii's agricultural output.
"Hawaii agriculture is uniquely different from the mainland in that specialty crops comprise the majority of our agricultural industry," remarked Sharon Hurd, chairperson of the Hawaii Board of Agriculture. The projects set to receive funding focus on a range of initiatives, including research on disease-resistant coffee plant varieties, improvements in ʻawa and corn production, and expansion of educational and outreach efforts for macadamia nuts and horticultural crops. Efforts to broaden markets for these crops are also included.
USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt stated, "We are happy to once again be partnered with Hawaii on the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program." She highlighted the program's role in bolstering U.S. specialty crop production and market access, ensuring the availability of fresh, locally-grown produce for Americans, and supporting the long-term success of specialty crop growers in the region.
The grant to Hawaii is part of the USDA's broader allocation of $72.9 million in non-competitive funding for Fiscal Year 2024, distributed across 54 states, territories, and the District of Columbia as authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill.
Source: Hawaii.gov