Illinois to receive specialty crop grant funds
Funds to
12 projects will expand the availability of fresh, locally grown
produce and strengthen state's farm economy
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[October 02, 2013]
SPRINGFIELD -- Agriculture
Director Bob Flider announced last week that Illinois will receive
nearly $540,000 through the federal Specialty Crop Block Grant
Program. The funds will be split between 12 projects that are
intended to expand the availability of fresh, locally grown produce
and strengthen the state's specialty crop industry.
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"Illinois' fertile soil and favorable climate are good for growing a
wide variety of crops," Flider said. "These grants will help
encourage additional production and expand access to nutritious,
locally grown fruits and vegetables." While best known for growing
corn and soybeans, Illinois is the largest producer of pumpkins and
horseradish in the nation and ranks among the top 10 states in the
production of other specialty crops such as asparagus, cauliflower,
green peas and lima beans.
Specialty crops are defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts,
dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, including
floriculture. The state devotes more than 117,000 acres of farmland
to growing specialty crops, which produce nearly $137 million in
sales for Illinois farmers.
A list of the grant recipients and a brief description of their
projects follows:
-
Partner with the
Illinois Specialty Growers Association to increase training
opportunities for Illinois specialty crop growers. The training
will emphasize food safety requirements.
-
Increase local
specialty crop sales at designated grocery stores and farmers
markets by implementing the Illinois "Where Fresh Is" marketing
campaign.
-
Partner with WBBM-TV,
a subsidiary of CBS Inc. (CBS Community Partnership Division),
to provide a targeted multimedia campaign that focuses on the
importance and availability of locally grown specialty crops.
-
Partner with the
Illinois Stewardship Alliance to obtain commitments from chefs
to make at least 10 percent of their food purchases from local
specialty crop growers. This will be accomplished, in part, by
developing a pilot project that allows restaurants to procure
local food online and by organizing chef-farmer networking
events.
-
Partner with the
Land Connection to develop a marketing plan for specialty crop
growers that uses social media and to provide monthly social
media starter kits during the growing season that offer specific
content farmers can use to market their produce.
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-
Partner with the
Ag in Progress Partnership to create an educational program that
teaches FFA members about the importance of honeybees to
specialty crop pollination.
-
Partner with
Experimental Station in Chicago to teach low-income, urban
residents how to grow, prepare and enjoy Illinois specialty
crops. The program will include in-school, after-school and
summer educational programming through the 61st Street Farmers
Market.
-
Partner with the
Gary Comer Youth Center to educate urban children about the
nutritional value of specialty crops and provide these children
an opportunity to participate in urban agriculture through the
development of a rooftop farm.
-
Partner with the
IAA Foundation to help students make a connection between the
foods they eat and the farmers who grow them by creating a new
Pumpkin Ag Mag and distributing it for use in the classroom.
-
Partner with the
University of Illinois to identify optimum varieties and
planting dates for the vertical production of hydroponic
strawberries in high tunnels. Results of the study will be
shared through presentations, field days and newsletters.
-
Partner with the
Horseradish Growers of Illinois to improve the size, color and
taste of horseradish through the use of newly obtained germplasm
materials from eastern Europe.
-
Partner with Southern Illinois
University, the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association,
and Shawnee Hills Wine-Grape Association to improve the
sustainability of vineyard floor management. The project will
research (1) new cultural and biological under-vine management
tools, such as various mulches, compost and fertilization; (2)
grower reluctance to adopt new soil management methods; and (3)
the value consumers place on sustainability of vineyard cultural
practices.
[Text from
Illinois Department of
Agriculture
file received from the
Illinois Office of Communication and Information] |