Twenty-six projects promoting fruits, vegetables and specialty-crops grown across the Lone Star State will share $1.8-million in federal funding recently awarded to the Texas Department of Agriculture.
Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples said the funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Specialty Crop Block Grant Program will "further improve the ability of Texas consumers to access food grown right here in Texas while giving Texas farmers access to the tools and resources needed to grow their businesses and improve the quality of their crops."
The projects that have been chosen specialize in improved food safety, increased marketing and promotion of Texas produce, increased awareness of nutritional benefits of produce and increased protection of crops from plant pests and diseases.
Specialty crops include: fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture. Texas ranks among the nation's leaders in production of many specialty crops, including citrus, onions, watermelons, pecans and grapes.
For more information about the grant, visit www.TexasAgriculture.gov and click on "Grants/Funding."