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Grants awarded for specialty cropsColorado Sixteen grants totaling more than $625,000 have been awarded through the Colorado Department of Agriculture's Specialty Crops Program. Specialty crops include fruits, vegetables, seeds, greenhouse and nursery products, and sod. Funds are received by CDA from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service initiatives aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of Colorado's fruit, vegetable and green industries. "The increase in funding has provided a tremendous opportunity for Colorado's agricultural industry to tackle projects not previously possible," said CDA's Markets Director, Tom Lipetzky. Fiscal year 2009 funds were recently approved by the USDA for the following projects: Center for Systems Integration to develop a model Farm-to-School program for fruits and vegetables. Colorado Certified Potato Growers Association to promote Colorado seed potatoes. Colorado Chef's Association to educate chefs and celebrate Colorado's produce harvest. Colorado Department of Agriculture for development of a Colorado Pavilion at the Produce Market Association's Fresh Summit 2010 Expo. Colorado Dry Bean Administrative Committee to research the efficacy of irrigation systems on diverse market classes of dry beans. Colorado Farmers Market Association for promotion and organizational capacity building. Colorado Foundation for Agriculture to develop a "Veggies in Colorado" reader for use in elementary school classrooms. Colorado Onion Association to participate in the 2010 Fresh Summit Expo. Colorado Potato Administrative Committee for research to identify, brand and market attribute specific potatoes. Colorado Proud for promotion of Colorado specialty crops in the summer of 2010. Colorado State University to develop an online training program concerning Good Agricultural Practices/Good Handling Practices (GAP/GHP) for fruit and vegetable growers. Mira Sol Chile to enhance chile pepper production through mechanical harvesting. Mountain Valley Canning to assess the feasibility of developing a community cannery. Rocky Mountain Sod Growers Association to educate consumers of the benefits of sod. Yuma Conservation District for developing test plots researching the potential for vegetables and nursery crops in Eastern Plains production systems. In addition, $94,750 was awarded to Colorado State University to support small acreage, socially disadvantaged and beginning specialty crop producers. Funds will provide for a specialty crops coordinator and for producer grants for on-farm research and demonstration marketing projects. To learn more about Colorado's specialty crop program, visit www.colorado.gov/ag/specialtycropgrant or contact CDA's markets division at 303-239-4116.
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