2025 California Specialty Crop Block Grant Awards Announced
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has announced the recipients of the 2025 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBG), and we are proud to share that Morrison clients will receive a combined $2.4 million to strengthen the competitiveness of California-grown specialty crops.
This year, CDFA awarded funds to 43 projects – each ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 – for a total of $24.2 million. Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administered by CDFA, the program directs significant support to California’s specialty crop sector. Of the roughly $72.9 million distributed nationwide, California received one-third of the funding.
Among the awardees, West Sonoma Coast Vintners secured more than $400,000 through the “Grown in California” category to highlight the distinctive character and appeal of wines from the West Sonoma Coast region through a marketing campaign targeting trade, media, and consumers in Texas.
The California Distillers Association, another Morrison client, was awarded $470,000 to expand opportunities for specialty crop farmers. The project will encourage distillers to use undervalued specialty crops and engage consumers through a web-based trail map of craft distilleries partnered with specialty crop producers – further boosted by digital media and influencer campaigns.
The SCBG program accepts applications from a wide range of entities, including nonprofits, for-profits, government agencies, and educational institutions. Projects typically focus on market development, training and education, research in environmental stewardship and sustainability, and plant health or pest management.
For more than a decade, Morrison has partnered with clients across multiple states to develop SCBG proposals, consistently achieving strong results. We are honored to support impactful projects that advance specialty crop industries.
If you would like to explore future opportunities to apply for SCBG funding with Morrison’s grant writing team, please reach out at grants@morrisonco.net or call 530-893-4764.