The California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) has announced that it is now accepting proposals for the 2026 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) and the Technical Review Committee (TRC). The SCBGP aims to enhance the competitiveness of California’s specialty crops through a two-phase competitive solicitation process. Eligible applicants include non-profit and for-profit organizations, government entities, and educational institutions. Grants will range from $100,000 to $500,000 per project, with a duration of up to two years and eight months.
Specialty crops encompass fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops. Detailed application instructions can be found in the 2026 Request for Concept Proposals available online. The deadline for submitting Concept Proposals via the Financial Assistance Application Submittal Tool (FAAST) is September 11, 2025.
CDFA will also host webinars to guide prospective applicants through the application process. Further information is accessible on CDFA’s SCBGP website or by contacting their Office of Grants Administration.
The TRC consists of volunteers knowledgeable about California’s specialty crop industry who evaluate funding proposals. Interested individuals must submit an application form and résumé by September 15, 2025. Additional details are available on CDFA’s SCBGP website.
Information from this article can be found here.
