Indiana Ag Connection - 'Fruitful' Marketing Opportunities for Indiana Specialty Crops

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'Fruitful' Marketing Opportunities for Indiana Specialty Crops
Indiana Ag Connection - 01/31/2008

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) wants specialty crop organizations to take advantage of a "fruitful" marketing opportunity. ISDA will award grants ranging from $5,000-$20,000 to qualifying projects. The money will come from the Specialty Crop Block Grant provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agriculture Marketing Services.

"Vegetables, greenhouse nursery products and other specialty crops annually contribute more than $290 million to Indiana's economy," said Indiana Agriculture Director Andy Miller. "This is an important sector of agriculture to our state and clearly the Daniels Administration wants to support its growth. This grant can assist organizations in opening new markets across the country and around the world. We encourage organizations to take advantage of these grant dollars and apply."

ISDA will fund two types of grants. Market promotion grants are for domestic or international promotion of Indiana food and agricultural products. Distribution grants are to mitigate trade barriers that prevent or slow entry of Indiana food and agricultural products into foreign markets. Eligible activities include, but are not limited to, development and printing of marketing materials, promotional campaigns and events, actual transporting of product, market research, trade shows and outbound missions. The funds cannot be used for any grant administrative costs.

Organizations eligible to apply for the grants include commissions, public entities, associations and/or nonprofit organizations that represent specialty crops, such as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and nursery crops. Complete eligibility requirements and applications will be available on the ISDA Web site from February 1-March 7, 2008.

Applications must be emailed to Ann Schmelzer, Program Manager for Regional Development, at aschmelzer@isda.in.gov mailto:" by 4 p.m. EST on Friday, March 7, 2008. Applications received after that time will not be considered. Successful candidates will be notified no later than April 1, 2008.

The Specialty Crop Block Grant was created by The Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 for state departments of agriculture across the country to enhance specialty crop competitiveness.