The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA-AMS) awards Specialty Crop Block Grants (SCBGP) to the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territories. In Maryland, the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) administers these funds to enhance the competitiveness of Maryland specialty crops.
What are Specialty Crops?
Specialty crops are defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops. Eligible plants must be intensively cultivated and used by people for food, medicinal purposes, and/or aesthetic gratification to be considered specialty crops. For a list of eligible and ineligible crops, please see Definition of Specialty Crops.
Photo credit: Edwin Remsberg
