Maine specialty crop growers get $500K in fed funds to expand growth

Photo / Renee Cordes Maine Maple Producers Association will receive $22,500 in federal funding to increase the sales of Maine pure maple syrup. Shown here are customers during Maine Maple Weekend this past October.

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By Staff

The Maine Maple Producers Association has been awarded $22,500 in federal funding to help the trade group increase syrup sales, part of $500,000 in federal relief for Maine specialty crop producers announced on Wednesday.

Funding was warded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Block Grant program and will be administered through the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

“Agriculture is an integral part of Maine’s rural communities, from newly founded farms to operations that have been passed down from generation to generation,” U.S. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Angus King, I-Maine, said in a joint statement announcing the awards.

“These investments will strengthen Maine’s agricultural sector by supporting the development of more resilient fruits and vegetables and boosting farmers’ sales through increased marketing," they added.

The program helps specialty crop growers sell more products locally and globally, protect crops from pests and diseases and market products in order to be competitive.

Since 2002, the program has awarded more than $6.5 million to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to support the increasing number of specialty crop producers that sell to local and regional markets.

Recipients and amounts

Blue Barn LLC: $62,800 to market, distribute, and produce a new Maine wild blueberry beverage.

Daybreak Grower’s Alliance: $38,216 to expand its specialty crop sales.

Maine Maple Producers Association: $22,500 to increase the sales of Maine pure maple syrup.

Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Alliance: $64,956 to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops and increase farmer’s compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act.

University of Maine’s School of Biology and Ecology: receive $84,647 to improve wild blueberry production and resilience to warming and $79,994 to improve pest management practices in Maine wild blueberries.

University of Maine’s School of Food and Agriculture: $52,402 to develop new peach varieties with improved cold hardiness.

University of Maine’s Maine Food and Agriculture Center: $14,595 to expand Maine’s winter squash storage life, $83,321 to conduct pest management on Maine potatoes and $30,872 to expand Maine’s berry industry and improve farm profitability.

Maine Department of Agriculture, Conversation and Forestry GAP Program: $12,000 to administer a pilot project aimed at expanding opportunities for Maine produce growers.