Seven new projects focused on New Mexico's specialty crop industry are set to begin this fall, supported by $611,032 in federal funding. The initiatives will be managed by the New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) and will run through September 29, 2028, under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
Specialty crops include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops. The grant program is designed to improve the competitiveness of these crops through research, marketing efforts, education programs, and enhancements in supply chain processes.
The funded projects for 2025 cover a range of topics. "Apple Revitalization for New Mexico advances production practices to support the state’s apple industry." Another project titled "Path to Plate: Enhancing Local Food Supply Chain Efficiency in New Mexico increases market access and reduce barriers for specialty crop growers."
Other initiatives include expanding local product markets with the "New Mexico Grown Value-Added Foods Pilot Rollout," which focuses on processing and packaging innovation. A separate effort called "Quality Assessment of Northern New Mexico Lavender Cultivars’ Essential Oils evaluates quality traits to strengthen the lavender sector."
There are also educational components: "Enhancing awareness of the benefits of specialty crops for rural New Mexico families, farmers, and youth propels education and outreach to increase specialty crop consumption." Health integration is addressed with "Sembrando Salud: Promoting Health through the Small-Scale Production of Specialty Vegetables and Culinary/Medicinal Herbs integrate health and food security."
Finally, consumer engagement is targeted with "New Mexico Wine Grape Awareness & Interaction promotes consumer engagement and awareness of the state’s wine grape industry."
These projects are intended to provide long-term benefits by supporting research advancements as well as creating new opportunities for growers across various sectors within New Mexico's specialty crop market.
