1

Evaluation of the USDA 

Specialty Crop Block Grant

 Program (SCBGP)

INTRODUCTION

The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP), 

authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill funds projects to 

improve the competitiveness of U.S. specialty crop 

producers, and increase consumption of specialty crops.

In 2013, AMS invested $51.5 million of funds authorized 

for the SCBGP in 50 states and 4 territories to conduct 

664 projects.1

 To better understand the successful 

outcomes and impact of the program, the USDA 

partnered with Purdue University to analyze qualitative 

and quantitative data from 2013 grant recipient final 

performance reports, interviews, and surveys. 

The evaluators determined that SCBGP fulfilled its 

statutory responsibility. Program outcomes and 

evidence demonstrate that SCBGP successfully 

enhanced the competitiveness of the U.S. specialty 

crop industry, supported local economies, and provided 

individuals and communities with access to safe and 

healthy food.

PROGRAM OUTCOMES

• Completed 821 food safety certifications and

audits, and tested more than 2,000 samples

to monitor, detect, and mitigate risks to the

specialty crop food safety system.

• Reached over 1.66 million individuals and

13,786 industry and consumer groups through

activities and information dissemination.

1 At the time of evaluation in October 2018, the most 

recently completed grant projects were initiated in Fiscal Year 

2013.

A study of 2013 projects

KEY SCBGP CHARACTERISTICS

THAT HELP STATES ADDRESS

SPECIALTY CROP INDUSTRY NEEDS

• SCBGP is an effective mechanism for states to

fund wide variety of activities to meet unique

state specialty crop industry needs.

• SCBGP provides flexibility for states to

additionally combine funding contributions

from public and private sectors and/or reinvest

income generated through grant activities.

• SCBGP sustains states’ abilities to advance longterm research, training, and tool development

for the specialty crop industry.

Agricultural

Marketing 

Service

July 2021

RESEARCH BRIEF

79%

84%

86%

100%

100%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 120%

Assisted new and beginning farmers

Increased agricultural revenues

statewide

Added or increased SC production by

farmers

Increased knowledge and awareness, or

promoted the production and

consumption of SC

Created products, including community

gardens, publications, workshops; and

advanced research

Percent of grant project recipients reporting outcomes
2

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR USDA

• Clearly communicate with states about 

administrative and reporting requirements. 

• Allow for flexibilities in application and 

state program administrative requirements, 

particularly in order to fund projects by small or 

non-academic groups.

• Revise performance measures to align more 

closely with states’ needs. USDA AMS fulfilled 

this 2018 Farm Bill requirement in fiscal 

year 2020 by partnering with the National 

Association of State Departments of Agriculture 

Foundation (NASDA Foundation) and 

Grant Thornton. 

Huerta del Valle (HdV) provides a service for local businesses when HdV employee Nicolas Reza picks up organic waste such as 

nectarines and cut cabbage from a food distributor for the compost area of the 4-Acre organic Community Supported Garden and 

Farm. 

CONTACT INFORMATION

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service

Grants Division

Email: scblockgrants@usda.gov

Phone: 202-260-8702

This study was created in fulfillment of a cooperative research agreement between the United States 

Department of Agriculture (USDA AMS) Purdue University Evaluation and Learning Research Center. The 

opinions and conclusions expressed in this report do not necessarily represent the views of USDA or AMS. 

Find the full report here: https://stemedhub.org/publications/3/3

Photo Credit: USDA

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