The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has unveiled a significant initiative to support and boost the competitiveness of the U.S. specialty crops sector, a move aligned with the administration’s commitment to developing new and improved markets for American farmers.
Highlighted by USDA Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small, this initiative underscores the crucial role of specialty crops in providing nutritious, fresh foods and the importance of sustaining profitable and sustainable agricultural practices.
A pivotal element of this initiative is the launch of the Specialty Crops Resource Directory. This directory acts as a comprehensive resource, bringing together various USDA services and support available to specialty crop producers and businesses.
The USDA is set to engage directly with stakeholders in the specialty crop industry, planning a series of roundtables and discussions to gather vital feedback. This feedback will inform how the Department can more effectively meet the needs of the industry. Stakeholders are also invited to submit comments through a dedicated page in the Federal Register.
This initiative is a part of the broader Bidenomics strategy, which focuses on increasing competition and fostering economic growth, particularly in rural America.
In a parallel announcement, USDA has committed $70.2 million to the Specialty Crop Research Initiative. This investment will fund 21 research projects addressing critical challenges in both organic and conventional food production.
These projects range from enhancing the U.S. blueberry industry's sustainability at Michigan State University to Pennsylvania State University's innovative pest and disease management strategies for mushrooms, and the University of Georgia's research on cucurbit crop diseases.
This initiative joins a suite of USDA efforts aimed at supporting the specialty crops industry, including the recent unveiling of the Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP) and substantial investments in the Specialty Crop Block Grant awards.
Additionally, the USDA continues to support the industry through significant purchases of U.S.-produced specialty crops for various nutrition assistance programs, underscoring the department's commitment to the sector's growth and success.
Source : wisconsinagconnection