This week's agrictulture briefs

Grants for North Coast food agencies

Four North Coast groups will receive federal food promotion grants totaling more than $160,000.

The largest award, $97,038, goes to the Commercial Fishing Association of Bodega Bay. It will pay for consultants and staffing to develop new markets for locally caught, sustainable seafood.

The grants, which come from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, also included $25,000 each for the Arcata Economic Development Corp. and the Eureka-based Food for People, as well as $15,000 for the Klamath-based Yurok Tribe.

'California's North Coast is home to some of the best farms, fisheries and ranches in the nation, and our region is a leader in the local food movement,' Rep. Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, said in a statement announcing the awards. 'These federal funds will be put to good use, improving access to local food and expanding markets for our ranchers, farmers and local fishing businesses.'

The USDA this year awarded $11.9 million for such grants to 160 marketing and promotion projects around the nation.

US, state apple crop to shrink

Apple production in California is expected to decline 8 percent from a year earlier, according to a recent estimate by the USDA.

In contrast, the U.S. apple crop is forecast to drop by 11 percent this year.

If the forecast is correct, it would still be 3 percent higher than the average crop harvested from 2010 to 2014.

The expected decline may result in higher prices for consumers, the USDA said in its Sept. 30 outlook for fruit and nut crops.

Even so, it noted that the number of apples in cold storage remains above average and should mitigate the potential price increase.

California is the nation's fifth-largest apple producer, according to the state Farm Bureau Federation. Washington state, the top-ranked producer, is expected to see its crop decline 14 percent this year.

State funds OK'd for specialty crops

California will receive $19.7 million in federal funds to promote specialty crops, according to the state Department of Food and Agriculture.

The money will be used for 66 projects around the state. The projects will include boosting market opportunities for specialty crops, nutrition education, environmental stewardship, pest management and equipping the next generation of specialty crop farmers.

The USDA evaluated grant applications based partly on the program's ability to improve food safety practices and minimize outbreaks of foodborne illness.

A total of $63 million in such grants were awarded nationwide.

Compiled by Robert Digitale. Submit items to robert.digitale@pressdemocrat.com.