2008 Specialty Crop Grants
June Grants
Kansas State University
Ethnic Specialty Crops for Kansas: Crops and Cultivars for Diverse Markets
New ethnic fruits and vegetables present great opportunities for producers and are of interest to many consumers. Demand for these crops comes both from immigrants yearning for a taste of home and from a wider population of U.S. consumers interested in healthy and tasty alternatives in their diets. Partners on this project will work with immigrant farmers in Kansas City to identify and evaluate specific crops for which there is likely to be market demand. Two sets of crops will be targeted: sweetpotato for leafy greens and non-standard root types; and a number of Asian or African vegetables identified as having good market potential and probable adaptation in Kansas. Germplasm will be obtained, cultivar trials will be conducted both on-station and on-farm, and fact sheets will be developed for both production and marketing (nutritional information and recipes) for the crops targeted.
Grant awarded: $20,000
Kansas State University
Research for Overcoming Barriers to Institutional Purchases of Locally Grown Food
We propose to address at least three of the perceived barriers to institutional purchases through student research at the newly established horticulture student research farm at K-State. Specific barriers identified by dieticians at the K-State dormitory food service include food safety, cleanliness and price. For this project, we propse to conduct research specifically on food safety, cleanliness and price. Results will be shared with growers and institutional buyers throughout Kansas via Extension fact sheets, meetings, and web-based informational materials with the ultimate goal of increasing Kansas fruit and vegetable sales from their current level of less than $16 million to closer to their potential of $525 million (date from state sales tax and census of ag).
Grant awarded: $20,000
Kansas State University
Growing Growers Training Program: Training New Fruit and Vegetable Growers in Kansas
This project will help train new fruit and vegetable producers in Kansas through on-farm apprenticeships complemented by workshops designed to expose trainees to skill sets required for successful operations. This will be done by incorporating a fruit option/ focus into the Growing Growers Training Program, a collaborative program that has to date, focused largely on the training of new organic vegetable market farmers producing of the Kansas City market. The incorporation of fruit production into the Growing Growers program will broaden the focus to include new crops, and to include medium-sized family farms using sustainable practices which may not be exclusively organic.
Grant awarded: $20,000
Kansas Rural Center
Promotion of Specialty Crops at Kansas Farmers Markets
Farmers market will develop market promotion plans and implement successful minigrants to promote their markets and specialty crops. These 15 farmers markets will increase customer attendance by 10% and increase sales by 15%.
Grant awarded: $20,000
Kansas Grape Growers and Winemakers Association
Enhance Kansas Wine Industry by Increasing Vineyard Acreage Planted to Newer and/or Emerging Varieties
To provide a boost to the state grape and wine industries, this grant will increase current wine grape plantings by 5%, from 200 to 210 acres. Participating growers will be required to plant pre-specified wine grape varieties, plant them in pre-specified quantities, provide timely feedback, and host a workshop in their vineyard. In return, they will be reimbursed one-third the cost of the plant stock. Details will be specified in an agreement between the grower and KGGWA.
Grant awarded: $20,000
Kansas Grapegrowers & Winemakers Association
KGGWA Marketing Program
New informational newspaper & brochures for all Kansas wineries which will include a map of the state indicating locations of Kansas wineries.
Grant awarded: $1,835
September Grants
Kansas State University
Educational Program for Kansas Grapegrowers
The purpose of the grant is to enhance the competitiveness of the Kansas wine industry by increasing the knowledge level of grape growers and wine producers. Kansas State University (KSU) will participate in the project and will subcontract with the Institute for Continental Climate Viticulture and Enology (ICCVE) at University of Missouri and other states for delivery of educational services.
Grant awarded: $33,500
Kansas Rural Center
21st Century Farmers Markets: Profitability Through Awareness, Access and Education
The Kansas Rural Center (KRC) will partner with the Kansas Center for Sustainable Agriculture and Alternative Crops (KCSAAC) to provide education and training through a statewide farmers market conference; develop a website and blogs to promote markets and educate consumers, market growers and market managers; and stimulate increased consumption of Kansas grown fruits and vegetable through focused marketing on ten specialty crops and a farmers market week promotional cost share.
Grant awarded: $41,751
Kansas Grape Growers and Winemakers Association
Establish Kansas Wine Quality Certification and Marketing Program
The basic reason quality is of such importance toward the establishment of Kansas wines is the customer base. Over half of the sales in Kansas wineries can be attributed to tourists or first time customers. As Kansas is not yet established as a quality wine region, the customer is often skeptical and thus very critical of their first taste of Kansas wines. If the wine is not crafted in a quality manner, the customer will more then likely judge the entire state based on that first tasting. The main components of a wine quality program are the wine evaluation process, the recognition method and the marketing of the program wines.
Grant awarded: $30,000
