Kankakee Times

Rep. Jackie Haas shared information on the state’s specialty crop block grant program in a Sept. 23 Facebook post, stating, "The Illinois Department of Agriculture will distribute nearly $525,000 in federal funding over a three-year period to support the state’s specialty crop industry."

"The Illinois Department of Agriculture will distribute nearly $525,000 in federal funding over a three-year period to support the state's specialty crop industry," said Haas, State Representative, according to Facebook.

In her Facebook post, Haas shared a link to a Morning AgClips article announcing the distribution.

Screenshot of State Rep. Jackie Haas' Sept. 23 Facebook post | State Representative Jackie Haas' Facebook page

"We are happy to once again be partnered with Illinois on the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. The innovative projects funded through this program will strengthen U.S. specialty crop production and markets and ensure Americans have sustained access to fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and other specialty crops and support the region’s specialty crop growers to help ensure their long-term success," said Jenny Lester Moffitt, USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs.

According to the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA), the Specialty Crop Grant Program focuses these funds on applications for projects that enhance food safety; improve compliance with the requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act; increase child and adult nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty crops; protect and improve pollinator health; improve pest and disease control; improve food access for veterans and underserved communities; improve efficiency and reduce costs of distribution systems; and develop new and improved seed varieties and specialty crops.

For 2025-2027, grants were awarded to multiple nonprofit recipients. These include Elawa Farm Foundation, which received $65,826 to provide accessible specialty crop education for youth and adults in Lake County; Freeport Student Garden, which was awarded $43,047.76 to transition from conventional field cucumber and tomato production to high tunnel production; Fuller Park Community Development’s Eden Place Farm, which received $56,160 to create a fresh food market available five days a week to Fuller Park, Bronzeville, and New City residents; Gardeneers school garden and farm programs received $41,965 to increase knowledge, access, and consumption of specialty crops in Chicago for 3,500 elementary and high school students.

Rep. Jackie Haas was elected to represent Illinois’ 79th House District in December 2020. She is CEO of the Helen Wheeler Center for Community Health and previously worked as a social worker at Riverside Medical Center. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Valparaiso University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Illinois-Chicago.