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The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is accepting Concept Proposals for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) with project funding levels ranging from $100,000 to $600,000. The total estimated funding available for the 2027 SCBGP is $28 million. Applications are due September 21, 2026.

Each year CDFA conducts a two-phase competitive solicitation process to award funds to projects that enhance the competitiveness of California specialty crops. The SCBGP is designed to support all sectors of California’s specialty crop industry and improve the performance of California specialty crops within local, domestic, and international markets. Specialty crops include fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture).

This program is for projects in the state of California. However, other state departments of agriculture also administer specialty crop block grant programs. To find out if your state has a program click here.

Who is eligible to apply for the SCBGP?

Eligible applicants include: non-profit and for-profit organizations; local, state, and federal government entities; Tribal governments (federally and non-federally recognized); and public or private colleges and universities. Individuals are not eligible to apply and this program is not ideal for a single for-profit company.

What projects are eligible for this program?

SCBGP projects can focus on the marketing and promotion of specialty crops; improving access to and consumption of California specialty crops; education and training of specialty crop farmers; and research projects that focus on environmental stewardship, conservation, and sustainable agriculture; plant health and pest management; and food safety. In general, organizations can spend grant funds on personnel costs; marketing campaign costs; and costs for educational trainings and events, among other costs.

What are the funding levels for the 2027 SCBGP?

CDFA anticipates that up to $28 million will be awarded with grant amounts ranging from $100,000 to $600,000 per project.

Is there a cost-sharing/match requirement?

In the 2026 Federal Notice of Funding Opportunity, USDA announced an intent to include a cost share requirement for all awards, stating that each project would be required to provide a cost share from non-federal sources in the form of cash and/or in-kind contributions equal to 25 percent of the amount of federal funds being requested. As of CDFA’s publication of the 2027 Request for Concept Proposals, USDA has not provided the NOFO or Terms and Conditions for the 2027 SCBGP.

What is the grant duration?

The maximum grant duration is two years, eight months (November 1, 2027-June 30, 2030).

What is the award timeline?

Applications for Phase I are due on September 21, 2026 by 9 a.m. PT. Successful Phase I applicants will be invited to submit Phase II grant proposals. CDFA anticipates opening the application period for Phase II in December 2026 with Phase II grant proposals due January 2027.

Phase II awardees will be announced in Fall 2027 and their projects can begin November 1, 2027. There is no limit on the amount of Phase I proposals applicants may submit, however, each concept proposal should be for a wholly unique project.

The full Request for Concept Proposals can be found here.

Morrison has extensive experience writing successful applications for clients for this program. For more information on this grant or how to apply with Morrison’s assistance, please contact the Morrison Grants Team by email at grants@morrisonco.net or call us at 530-893-4764.