Organizations that benefit Minnesota fruit, vegetable and other specialty crop producers can apply for the United States Department of Agriculture’s specialty crop block grants through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture by 4 p.m. March 10, according to a press release.

Eligible projects must enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Minnesota by doing one of the following:

• Leveraging efforts to market and promote specialty crops

• Assisting producers with research and development relevant to specialty crops

• Expanding availability and access to specialty crops

• Addressing local, regional and national challenges confronting specialty crop producers

Roughly $1.3 million is available in total, with grants awarded for amounts between $10,000 and $100,000 per project. Funded projects can begin as of Nov. 1 and have a lifespan of up to 2.5 years.

Nonprofit organizations, producer organizations, government agencies, universities and other agricultural groups can apply, as well as for-profit entities, farms and other businesses that aim to enhance sector wide competitiveness of specialty crops through research, education or marketing projects.

The USDA defines specialty crops as fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, tree nuts, horticulture and nursery crops, floriculture and processed products with 50% or more specialty crop content by weight.

Additional information, including the request for proposal, funding priorities, questions and answers, previously funded project summaries and link to the online application can be accessed from the specialty crop grant website.