$82M in grants coming to Colorado farmers

(PUEBLO, Colo.) — Jenny Lester Moffitt, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, visited the Colorado State Fairgrounds on Thursday, Aug. 22 to announce more than $82 million in grants coming to Colorado farmers.

Over the past four years, the USDA has awarded a total of $5.2 million to the Colorado Department of Agriculture, to support 86 ongoing projects through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. The program supports farmers growing specialty crops like fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and nursery crops.

“It’s important, of course, for our economic vitality of our country. It’s important for food security for our country,” said Under Secretary Moffit at the announcement on Thursday. “The more farmers that we have and the more people who are producing food, and the diversity of our food, is really critical.”

The grant will strengthen U.S. specialty crop production and markets to ensure Americans have sustained access to fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and other specialty crops.

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