Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Specialty Crop Block Grant Program has awarded $458,542.31 to the New Mexico Department of Agriculture.

"This funding will ensure that New Mexico's unique agriculture industry continues to thrive," Bingaman said. "With this grant, New Mexico will be able to make its crops more competitive and marketable, as well as more widely available."

The funding supports the following initiatives, among other:

• Increase market share for New Mexico green chile in the national market by providing technical training seminars, webinars, as well as demographic analysis and innovative taste and preference.
• Partner with New Mexico State University to explore the possibility of implementing a certification program in an effort to increase the value of New Mexico Chile peppers.
• Partner with New Mexico State University to determine the feasibility for establishing a regional wholesale/retail market facility to supply the greater Albuquerque metro area with locally grown specialty crops.
• Enhance the marketing, development, and competitiveness of value-added specialty crop food and beverage products for the food service industry.