Vermont Invests $333,428 in Specialty Crop Industries
The state agriculture agency is funding projects in floriculture, pest monitoring and winter hydroponics through a federal block grant program.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Organic Food
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The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets announced a $333,428 investment in specialty crop industries through the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. The funding supports projects focused on fruit, vegetable, maple and nursery crop competitiveness in the state.
Why it matters
The program aims to strengthen the competitiveness of Vermont's fruit, vegetable, maple and nursery crop producers. Projects are selected through a competitive review process guided by industry, nonprofit and government stakeholders.
The $333,428 is drawn from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service's Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, which has supported Vermont projects since 2006 with over $4.5 million in total investment. The per-project allocation for each funded initiative was not specified in the source extraction.
The players
Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
The state agency that administers the Vermont Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and leads four of the funded state-level projects.
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service
The federal agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture that funds the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program distributed to states.
University of Vermont
The public research university that will expand its Pest Scouting and Monitoring Network under this round of funding.
The details
Franklin County Natural Resources Conservation District will strengthen the floriculture sector through education, technical assistance and networking. The University of Vermont will expand its Pest Scouting and Monitoring Network, and Village Hydroponics will develop training for container-based winter hydroponic production of specialty crops. The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets will also lead four state-level specialty crop projects.
Timeline
2006: Vermont's Specialty Crop Block Grant Program launches.
November 4, 2026: The agency announces this round of investments.
Mid-November 2026: Applications for the next funding round open.
Season Trajectory
Vermont's investment continues the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, which has funded state projects since 2006 and now totals over $4.5 million in Vermont. The state's Agriculture and Food Strategic Plan for 2021-2030 frames all of the funded projects.
Vermont growers of fruit, vegetables, maple and nursery crops may find new education, pest-monitoring reports and training resources through these funded projects. Producers interested in the next funding round can watch for applications opening in mid-November.
The takeaway
Vermont growers and researchers can compete for future Specialty Crop Block Grant funding by monitoring the state's application window. Funded projects are built to be shared, so producers may benefit from the pest reports and training resources they produce.
What happens next
Applications for the next round of the Vermont Specialty Crop Block Grant Program will open in mid-November.
Further reading
Explore more on Organic Food and the farming projects behind it.
More information
Read the full Vermont Agency of Agriculture investment announcement on VermontBiz.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Vermont Business Magazine.
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Should government spend public money supporting local farms and specialty crop growers?
