The Texas Department of Agriculture is requesting proposals for projects designed to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops such as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops. The projects will be funded through TDA-awarded grants.

Texas is eligible for $1.78 million in specialty crop funding.

TDA will accept proposals from agencies, universities, institutions and industry or community-based organizations. To qualify for consideration, organizations must have a vested interest in specialty crops and projects to enhance the competitiveness of Texas-grown products. Proposed projects should pertain to one of the following areas.

• Food safety. Projects that help implement good agricultural practices, good handling practices, good manufacturing practices or identify new methods to improve food safety.

• Nutrition. Projects that focus on increasing child and adult nutrition knowledge, and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables.

• Industry development. Proposals aimed at improving efficiency and reducing costs of distribution systems or industry training.

• Marketing. These projects may be geared toward increasing the sales or consumption of specialty crops domestically and internationally through advertising campaigns, in-store demonstrations or promotional, educational and international literature.

• Plant health. Projects investing in the prevention, control or eradi- cation of pests and diseases harmful to specialty crops.

• Value-added projects and industry development. Projects may include support for development of value-added processing facilities, establishment of certification programs and improvement of distribution methods.

More information is available at www.TexasAgriculture.gov. Click on “Grants/Funding.”

For program information, contact Mindy Weth Fryer, TDA grants specialist, at (512) 463- 6908 or by e-mail at grants@TexasAgriculture.gov.