Proposals for specialty crop grants being accepted by state Ag Department

The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture will be awarding $523,000 throughout the state this year to enhance the competitiveness Hawai‘i specialty crops.

Applications are being accepted by the Agriculture Department’s Market Development Branch for the fiscal year 2024 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Project awards can range from $20,000 to $70,000.

The application deadline is noon March 18.

Grant selection is expected in late April, with funds to be distributed in early 2025.

Under the program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture allocated funding to each state based on the value of the specialty crops it produced. Specialty crops are defined by the USDA as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.

Much of Hawai‘i’s diversified agriculture falls under this designation.

Eligible applicants include nonprofit and for-profit organizations, universities, individuals and , local, state and federal government entities. Applicants must reside in or their business or educational affiliation must be registered in Hawai‘i.

The primary goal of the grant program is to support projects that could provide the highest measurable benefits or return-on-investment to the specialty crop segment in Hawai‘i.

Preference will be given to projects that measurably increase the production and/or consumption of specialty crops and/or foster the development of fledging crops and organic operations.

Application information is available on the State Procurement Office website.

A webinar will be scheduled in the future to assist interested parties with the application process. Check online for updated information. 

For any questions, call 808-973-9594 or email to hdoa.addrfp@hawaii.gov.

For more information about the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, click here.