Governor Rell: $320,500 Federal Grant

 To Boost Research, Markets for Specialty Crops

Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that farmers of specialty crops in Connecticut such as grapes, asparagus, ornamental plants and Christmas trees will benefit from a $320,000 federal grant that will fund research and programs for hardier plants, improved yields and broader markets.

“The strength of Connecticut’s $2 billion agriculture industry is our diversity and the niche markets carved out by the resourcefulness and hard work of Connecticut farmers,” Governor Rell said. “These funds will help sow the seeds for increased production and more demand for Connecticut Grown crops both within and outside our borders.”

The $320,500 grant is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Block Grant Program administered by the state Department of Agriculture. The state has distributed nearly $776,000 in USDA specialty block grants since 2006. To be eligible, projects must increase the competitiveness of specialty crops and benefit the industry and not a single producer or business.

“The USDA grants clearly recognize that the projects that will be supported by these funds will boost the competitiveness of our small specialty producers and help create and promote more robust markets for their crops,” state Agriculture Commissioner F. Philip Prelli said.

The recipients of this year’s USDA grants are:

·        Connecticut Nursery and Landscape Association ($45,000) and Connecticut Greenhouse Growers Association ($35,000): For a new marketing program – Connecticut GardenStars – designed to increase sales of Connecticut grown ornamental plants;

·        Connecticut Christmas Tree Growers Association ($3,847): To fund the Association’s 50^th anniversary celebration and accompanying educational workshop on August 6-7, 2010.

·        University of Connecticut, Dept. of Agricultural & Resource Economics ($49,996): Conduct an economic analysis of grape production for wine-making in the state, to include potential markets for locally produced grapes and expected profitability of expanded production.

·        Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station ($49,996):

o       To increase production of hydroponics-grown salad greens by establishing greenhouse and fertilizer protocols that will maintain high nutritional values;

o       To boost the state’s asparagus crop by improving management strategies that enhance soil and root health and establish a more vigorous plant.

·        University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension ($35,530): To provide producers with training and information to improve safe food handling practices on their farms in order to adhere to federal and state Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) guidelines.

·        Connecticut Department of Agriculture ($67,352): To establish a uniform food safety GAP program in Connecticut by training and licensing a state Agricultural employee. The employee will be responsible for implementing the GAP program for 149 specialty crop farmers over the next three years.

The application deadline for the next round of specialty crop grants is due by March 1, 2010.  For more information visit www.ctgrown.gov or contact Jaime Smith at 860-713-2559.