BISMARCK - Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has awarded nine grants, totaling almost $500,000, to promote the development and cultivation of specialty crops in North Dakota.
"More and more consumers are turning to local food sources, especially for fresh produce," Goehring said. "These grants are aimed at boosting production and sales of specialty crops, such as vegetables and fruits."
Specialty crops are defined in law as "fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture."
Organizations and agencies receiving grants include:
- Northern Pulse Growers Association - $82,000 for improving market access characteristics of pulse crops, such as dry beans, drypeas and lentils.
- North Dakota Department of Agriculture - $77,100 for the Going Local North Dakota initiative.
- Northern Plains Potato Growers Association - $75,200 for breeding efforts to manage potato early die.
- Northarvest Bean Growers Association - $74,988 for strengthening value-added programs for dry edible beans. This is a joint project with Minnesota.
- National Sunflower Association - $70,389 for breeding rust-resistant confection sunflowers.
- North Dakota State University/Carrington - $47,950 to determine the effects of adding field peas to beef finishing feed.
- North Dakota Farmers Market and Growers Association - $33,000 for expanding North Dakota farmers markets.
- North Dakota Grape Growers - $30,000 for creation of wine grape hybrids for North Dakota.
- North Dakota State University - $9,100 for an evaluation of hardy roses for cut flower production.
Goehring said the North Dakota Department of Agriculture received 19 applications for grants.
The grant program is funded by the Agricultural Marketing Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture. The funds were appropriated in the 2007 Farm Bill. North Dakota was allocated $526,675.
