Appropriated Funding for Specialty Crop Block Grants
Authorized under the Specialty Crop Competitiveness Act, this provision recreated the successful 2001 State Block Grant Program for Specialty Crop production in all 50 states. The grants allow states to apply for USDA funds to promote specialty crop competition (past government-funded programs have focused mostly on increasing consumption, marketing, and pesticide research and application). In FY 2006, Congress approved $7 million in funding for this program. This year, the House passed the FY 2007 Agricultural Appropriations bill, which allocated $15.9 million to the Block Grant program, while the Senate's Agricultural Appropriations bill contains $10 million for the Block Grant program.

Appropriated funding to expand the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
Over the last five years, the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program has proven to be a model for increasing children's consumption of healthy fruits and vegetables and for creating a healthier food school environment. The program was first initiated as a four-state pilot program in the 2002 Farm Security and Rural Investment Act. The FY'06 Agriculture Appropriations Act (Sec. 779) further expanded the program by adding funding for six new states. Currently 14 states (Utah, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Texas, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, North Carolina, Washington, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania) and 3 Indian Tribal Organizations (Pine Ridge in South Dakota, Zuni in New Mexico and the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona) are funded to participate in the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. This year, the House of Representatives appropriated $25 million for the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program while the Senate Appropriation Committee approved $9 million. To learn more about the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program click here.