The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on Apr. 28 that Hawai‘i will receive $618,260 under the 2026 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. The grant will support projects aimed at increasing the competitiveness of specialty crops and creating new market opportunities for producers in the state.
Specialty crops include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops such as floriculture. Many of Hawai‘i’s diversified agricultural products fall into this category. Eligible plants must be cultivated or managed for food, medicinal purposes, or aesthetic uses.
The Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity plans to fund up to eight projects with this grant money to increase Hawaii’s specialty crop production. “Specialty crops are our agricultural ‘bread and butter’ in Hawai‘i,” said Sharon Hurd, chairperson of the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity. “Through the years, this block grant has strengthened the marketability of the state’s many diversified food crops as well as horticultural products.” USDA Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt said: “With this year’s Specialty Crop Block Grant funding, Hawai‘i is investing in innovative projects that will help address the needs of specialty crop producers within the region. The funded projects will also further USDA’s efforts to ensure U.S. specialty crop products remain competitive in markets across the nation and abroad.”
The total national allocation for fiscal year 2026 is $86.6 million distributed among 54 states, territories, and Washington D.C., according to program details released by USDA. The SCBGP grants are authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill with funding awarded over a three-year period starting Sept. 30.
The Hawaii Department of Agriculture promotes cultural resilience by supporting equity in agricultural communities and preserving traditional practices according to its official website. It manages facilities such as the Waiahole Water System in Aiea according to its official website, functions as a state government entity tied to both agriculture oversight boards according to its official website, employs 279 staff members statewide according to its official website, works to promote and protect local agriculture while blocking harmful species according to its official website, and maintains strict animal quarantine measures that keep Hawaii rabies-free—the only such status in the United States according to its official website.
Applications for these grants will be accepted from May 8 through June 8 on a dedicated webpage: https://dab.hawaii.gov/add/scbgp .
This funding is expected by officials to help sustain Hawaii’s diverse agriculture sector while maintaining high standards for plant health.
