October 19, 2016

Michigan potato commission receives USDA specialty crop grant

2 minute read

The Michigan Potato Industry Commission is among several Michigan awardees of specialty crop grants from the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.

The commission is the recipient of a $99,805 grant for developing tools to identify post-harvest quality traits for commercial chip-processing potatoes.

Below is the list of grantees from Michigan, with a maximum award of $100,000 each:

Celery Research, Inc. – $95,280. Evaluation of Antimicrobial Treatments to Effectively Control Listeria Monocytogenes, Salmonella sp. and STEC Escherichia coli on Celery Stalks.

Cherry Marketing Institute – $100,000. Maintaining Competitive Advantage against Imports: Introducing Montmorency Tart Cherries, the Cherry with More.

Hop Growers of Michigan – $76,415. Hop Quality Improvement, Training and Verification Program.

Kalamazoo Valley Community College – $97,414. Supporting Specialty Crop Growers in Business Development and Food Safety to Supply Institutional Customers.

MBG Marketing – $95,335. Development and Demonstration of Best Management Practices to Reduce Blueberry Gall Wasp Impacts in Michigan.

Michigan Apple Committee – $61,448. Building on Success: Engaging Fresh Apple Consumers Social Media.

Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board – $84,631. Delivering a Sustainable Production System to Michigan Asparagus Growers.

Michigan Bean Commission – $99,998. Dry Bean Disease Induced Yield Constraints Associated with High Performance Production Systems.

Michigan Carrot Committee – $98,707. Integrated Nitrogen, Disease, and Weed Management Strategies in Carrots.

Michigan Onion Committee – $99,885. Assessing the Role of Onion Thrips and Nutrients in Bacterial Leaf Blight in Michigan Onions.

Michigan Potato Industry Commission – $99,805. Developing Tools to Identify Post-Harvest Quality Traits for Commercial Chip-Processing Potatoes.

Michigan Tree Fruit Commission – $99,753. Development of Mobile Ready Products and Frost Control Decision Support Tools for Michigan Fruit Growers.

Michigan Agritourism Association – $85,219. Educating Specialty Crop Direct Marketers on Best Practices in Consumer Communication & Education.

Michigan Cherry Committee – $99,996. Refining Spotted Wing Drosophila Management Practices in Michigan Cherries.

Michigan Integrated Food and Farming Systems – $100,000. Staying Competitive: Launching a Database of Farmer Food Safety Complaint Practices.

Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association – $79,799. The Worst of the Worst MI Nursery Weeds: Evaluation of Adjuvant & Herbicide Combinations.

Michigan State Horticultural Society – $48,300. Developing Apple and Cherry Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) Management Tools to Protect Domestic and International Markets.

Michigan Farmers Market Association – $99,928. Promotion, Marketing, and Consumer Education to Enhance the Competitiveness of Michigan’s Specialty Crops.