The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) is a competitive grant program operated by the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) in which funding from the United States Department of Agriculture is awarded to eligible applicants to support Utah’s specialty crop industry. Specialty crops include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture — including nursery crops, and more. Click HERE for a complete list of eligible specialty crops.

This grant is open to producers, schools, trade associations, non-profits, farmers markets, farming and ranching co-ops, etc. headquartered in Utah. Potential projects may include a broad range of focus such as improving marketing, research, training, certifications, food safety, pest control, plant health and beyond for specialty crops. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to enhance the competitiveness of Utah-grown specialty crops and benefit more than one producer or organization.

UDAF is anticipating receiving between $300,000 and $350,000 to have available to be awarded. Individual project requests may not exceed $100,000. There is no request minimum.

Due to recent Executive Orders, this federal funding may be reduced or cancelled. The State of Utah makes no guarantee about the availability of these funds. Applications will be open until April 11, 2025 at 11:59 pm.

Applicants will apply through the Submittable platform and must have a Unique Entity Identifier to submit their application. Unique Entity Identifiers (UEI) can be acquired free-of-charge from the federal government at SAM.gov. This process can take some time, so applicants are strongly encouraged to begin the process quickly, and not to wait until the last week as it is unlikely the UEI will be assigned in time. A guide to getting a UEI is in the Helpful Links and Documents section.

Please read all the 2025 Specialty Crop Block Grant information below before applying.

  • Applications Open: March 5, 2025
  • Application Close Date: April 11, 2024 at 11:59pm
  • Application Review Period: April 2025
  • Awards Provisionally Announced: April-May 2025
  • Final USDA Award Approval: May-June 2025
  • Contracts signed and completed: September 2025
  • Project Start Date: September 30, 2025


This year, priority will be placed on projects that 

  • Strengthening the supply chain (including aggregation, distribution, storage, processing, and developing food hubs)
  • Improving market access (including marketing, consumer education, and developing local, international, and institutional markets)
  • Research and development (including developing new seed or plant varieties, pest & disease management, and conservation practices)
  • Producer education and workforce development
  • Enhancing food safety and regulatory compliance

For more information, as well as a list of previously awarded projects, please visit https://ag.utah.gov/specialty-crop-block-grant-program.