LAS CRUCES, N.M. — More than $500,000 in funding is available to New Mexico producers through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, administered by the New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA).
The program aims to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops, which include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops. Eligible projects should focus on areas such as marketing, training, certification, food safety, pest control, or plant health that benefit specialty crops broadly—not just a single organization or product.
Producer groups, nonprofits, trade associations, and universities are eligible to apply. Applications are due February 14, 2026, and will be reviewed by a panel of experts and NMDA staff.
To help applicants prepare, NMDA will host three virtual outreach workshops in December:
- Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 3:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Dec. 9 at noon
- Thursday, Dec. 11 at 7 a.m.
Registration links are available on NMDA’s website. Those unable to attend can request a one-on-one meeting by emailing specialtycrops@nmda.nmsu.edu by Dec. 11.
NMDA Secretary Jeff Witte encouraged participation, calling the workshops “a strong opportunity for New Mexico’s agriculture community.”
