The North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services provide services that promote and improve agriculture, agribusiness and forests; protect consumers and businesses; and conserve farmland and natural resources for the prosperity of all North Carolinians.
The grant program supports a broad range of projects aimed at enhancing the specialty crop industry. Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), it promotes development in several key areas, including but not limited to: enhancing food safety; complying with Food Safety Modernization Act requirements; investing in crop research and development; improving seed varieties; pest and disease control; increasing nutrition education and consumption; improving distribution efficiency and reducing costs; and promoting sustainability. This competitive grant program is open to nonprofit organizations, commodity associations, state and local government agencies, and academic institutions, encouraging a variety of approaches to bolster the specialty crop sector's growth and sustainability.