WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD-TV) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is awarding $86.6 million in block grants to support specialty crop growers through research, marketing, food safety, and pest management initiatives. The funding supports approximately 609 projects across 56 states and territories through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council, said the program lets states direct support to the specific needs of their specialty crop industries.
“It’s really unique in that it allows every state that specialty crops are grown in to support their specialty crop industries how their individual crops may need it,” Quarles said.
Potato Industry Receives Support for Research and Innovation
Quarles said the funding announcement includes 19 potato-related projects, addressing needs that vary among potato-producing states.
“Those projects look materially different if you’re in Pennsylvania or Idaho or Montana,” he said.
The projects address issues such as pest and disease research, new potato varieties and nutrition. Quarles pointed to research examining how potatoes fit into diets involving GLP-1 medications as one example of the work underway.
“Making sure that the new varieties of potatoes are thriving, are delivering the benefits that producers want that keep them competitive in international markets,” Quarles said.
He said research to address emerging threats and maintain competitiveness remains a priority for growers.
Global Competitiveness and Consumer Marketing
Quarles said U.S. potato growers need to stay competitive in international markets while responding to changing consumer interests.
He emphasized the importance of research into varieties that can withstand pest and disease threats, along with efforts to communicate the nutritional value of specialty crops.
Marketing also plays an important role, he said, because consumers of different generations seek information in different ways.
“Making sure that you’re speaking to consumers in the way that they want to be spoken to,” Quarles said.
He added that specialty crop producers have a strong story to tell, but reaching consumers requires communicating in ways that resonate.
Measuring the Long-Term Impact
Quarles said the grant program’s benefits may take several years to become clear as research progresses and projects reach growers.
“We know a lot of the benefits of this is, we’re going to see this two, three, four years down the line,” he said, noting that Congress has provided additional funding for future rounds of the program, which he said could bring later investments into the $100 million range.
Quarles described the program as an important way to support the varied needs of specialty crop producers across the country.
“It’s a uniquely elegant federal government program, which is not what you usually say about a federal government program,” he said.
