The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture has awarded $1 million in block grant funds to New York for research, development and promotion to boost the market competitiveness of the state”™s specialty crops. They include fruits and vegetables, tree nuts and nursery crops.
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo in announcing the award said $200,000 of the federal funding will help support the growth of the state’s wine, beer, and spirits industry. The governor in October hosted the state”™s first wine, beer and spirits industry summit in Albany.
Most of the funds will go to Cornell University in Ithaca and Cornell Cooperative Extension county offices across the state.
