ClosedState of CaliforniaAgency ID 79437

2027 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

CA Department of Food and Agriculture · State of California

At a glance

2027 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is a closed California state grant opportunity from CA Department of Food and Agriculture (State of California). The application deadline was September 21, 2026. Individual awards are listed as $100K – $600K, with $28M in total estimated funding. Applicant types listed as eligible include business, nonprofit, public agency and tribal government. It is listed on the California Grants Portal. Cost sharing is not required.

Summary assembled from the official notice's fields. The official notice governs.

Estimate · calculated by GrantsJunction

Expected to open around August 2027

This program has posted at about the same time each year. If it follows its pattern, the next round should post between Jul 31, 2027 and Aug 28, 2027, with about 28 days to apply.

Based on 6 past postings: Aug 10, 2023, Aug 12, 2024, Aug 15, 2025, Aug 24, 2026 and earlier. Confidence: high. Agencies can change or skip a year; only the agency's posted notice is official. Watch it and we'll email you when the next round posts.

Key facts

Aug 24, 2026Posted
Sep 21, 2026Application deadline

Opened: Aug 24, 2026
Close date: Sep 21, 2026
Award floor: $100,000
Award ceiling: $600,000
Est. total funding: $28,000,000
Expected awards: Not specified
Matching funds: Not required
Funding instrument: Grant

Program details (as published on the California Grants Portal)

Type: Grant
Funding source: Federal — Funding is contingent upon passage of a Farm Bill and available funding from the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service.
Matching funds: Not Required — CDFA includes the ability to outline cost share in proposals so that projects can demonstrate that unallowable costs and/or activities (such as projects that also benefit non- specialty crops) will not be funded with SCBGP grant funds. Cost share is not required and is unscored. Note that if a project will utilize cost share, this must be described in the cost share section of the proposal.
Funding method: Advances & Reimbursement(s)
Estimated number of awards: Dependant on number of submissions received, application process, etc.
Award period: 11/1/2027-06/30/2030
Expected award announcement: Fall 2027
Letter of intent: Not required
Geography: All projects must benefit the California specialty crop industry.
How to submit: Online: https://applications.cdfa.ca.gov/grants/s/
Latest change note: Dates and funding amounts updated for 2027 funding cycle.

Who can apply

Applicant categories as listed on the California Grants Portal. GrantsJunction maps them to detailed applicant types for search and matching.

Business
Nonprofit
Public Agency
Tribal Government

Additional information on eligibility (from the listing)

Non-profit and for-profit organizations; local, state, and federal government entities, including Tribal governments (federally and non-federally recognized); and public or private colleges and universities are eligible to apply. Individuals are not eligible to apply. Eligibility requirements for the Additional Assistance Program (opening in November 2026) differ. Please visit the SCBGP website or email grants@cdfa.ca.gov for more information.

Also named in the notice's eligibility text

Private colleges & universities

Matched from the wording above by GrantsJunction — confirm in the full announcement.

Can your organization apply?

A quick check against the listed applicant types — other requirements in the notice still apply.

Based on the published notice. Review the official notice for complete eligibility requirements.

What it funds

Purpose and description as published on the California Grants Portal.

Purpose

The California Department of Food and Agriculture's (CDFA) Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funds projects that enhance the competitiveness of California specialty crops. The SCBGP is designed to support all sectors of California's specialty crop industry and improve the performance of California specialty crops within local, domestic, national, and international markets.

Description

Funding and Duration: Grant amounts for the conventional program range from $100,000 to $600,000. The maximum grant duration is two (2) years, eight (8) months, and grant funds cannot be expended before November 1, 2027, or after June 30, 2030. Projects submitted through the Additional Assistance for Limited Resource Applicants (Additional Assistance) Program will range from $75,000 to $250,000. Program requirements and submission deadlines differ for Additional Assistance Program applicants. The 2027 Request for Concept Proposals - Additional Assistance Program will be available in November 2026. Please email grants@cdfa.ca.gov for more information. CDFA reserves the right to offer an award amount different than the amount requested.

Program page on the agency site ↗

Program contact (as published)

Lauren McCawley
grants@cdfa.ca.gov
1-916-657-3231

Quick answers

Who is eligible to apply for “2027 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program”?

The official listing names these applicant types as eligible: Business, Nonprofit, Public Agency and Tribal Government. It adds: “Non-profit and for-profit organizations; local, state, and federal government entities, including Tribal governments (federally and non-federally recognized); and public or private colleges and universities are eligible to apply. Individuals are not eligible to apply. Eligibility…” Additional restrictions may apply; review the full guidelines.

How much funding is available through “2027 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program”?

Per the notice, individual awards are listed as $100k – $600k and total estimated program funding is $28,000,000.

How do I apply for “2027 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program”?

Applications go directly to CA Department of Food and Agriculture, not through GrantsJunction. Submission: online at https://applications.cdfa.ca.gov/grants/s/. Read the program guidelines on the agency's site first; state programs set their own forms and registration requirements.

Other open California state opportunities, matched on agency, categories and wording.

Closes in 5 daysState of California