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News
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Block grants directed to enhance Oregon specialty crops
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9/29/2010
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Article Content Suggested lead
Oregon's specialty crop industry is hoping to increase its success in the marketplace with the help of $1.75 million in federal funds:
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The federal money, made possible through the 2008 Farm Bill, will fund 24 projects selected by the Oregon Department of Agriculture and an industry advisory board. These are projects designed to help a major portion of the state's ag production, says ODA Assistant Director Dalton Hobbs:
HOBBS: "At least 80 percent of Oregon's agricultural output is specialty crops. Oregon is noted for its wide variety and diversity of crops. Specialty crops make up most of what we produce here in the state." :11
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These crops range from fruits and vegetables to nursery stock. Oregon ranks fifth in the nation in specialty crop production. While most of the projects help established commodities and producers, some are internally funded. ODA is managing a handful of projects on behalf of beginning farmers or disadvantaged groups, according to ODA's Katie Pearmine:
PEARMINE: "Many of the areas that didn't come through during the applications were things like opportunities for new entrants to farming, reaching direct in local markets, food safety issues, and major export barriers." :13
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The external grants range from promoting certified sustainable Oregon wine to specialty potatoes from the Klamath Basin. In Salem, I"m Bruce Pokarney.
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HOBBS says one of the funded projects will help Klamath Basin growers promote a small, colorful potato that has already garnered interest overseas and fits well in a water-strapped part of the state. The money will help establish these potatoes in domestic retail markets:
"We've worked with the growers in that area to develop varieties of specialty potatoes that are drought resistant, that require less water to produce, and actually fetch a higher price in the marketplace because of their specialized nature." :14
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PEARMINE says another funded project continues to support a group of Malheur County onion growers who have started a voluntary food safety testing program that involves most of the growers in the Treasure Valley:
"Providing products that are tested for pesticides and pathogens, it builds consumer confidence and preference which is increasingly important given the need to ensure our food is safe." :10
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Full story
http://oregon.gov/ODA/news/100929specialty.shtml |
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