The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Oct. 1 the award of more than $100 million in grants to support specialty crop producers that provide fruits, vegetables, nuts and other nutritious foods for millions of healthy American meals each day.

Approximately $55 million of the total will be invested in 56 specialty crop block grants to states that fund748 initiatives across the United States to strengthen markets and expand economic opportunities for local and regional producers.

Herbs add an easy, gourmet touch to family meals at the holidays, and Donna Vis, marketing executive at River Ridge Farms in Oxnard, CA, has developed an herb garden line that has evolved over the years in response to research, feedback from retailers and customer requests.

A crowd of about 300 floral professionals attended the annual convention of the Society of American Florists in Palm Beach, FL, Sept. 19-22, according to an association statement. Sales peaks and valleys and the growing significance of social media were among the top floral industry trends highlighted at an event held before the convention.

The movement to establish Women’s Day on March 8 as a floral holiday is gathering steam. Lane DeVries, head of Sun Valley Group in Arcata, CA, offered in-store promotional materials to retailers at the recent International Floriculture Expo, and told The Produce News in early September that a half-dozen or so supermarket chains will be using the materials in 2013.

With new emphasis on cause-related marketing, many floral industry companies ranging from growers to bouquet makers, retailers and online floral firms are offering special products for Breast Cancer Awareness month in October that benefit research into the disease.

Bay City Flower Co. in Half Moon Bay, CA, is new to the cause this year with four pink hydrangea and azalea products that will forward 3 percent of proceeds to breast cancer research at the American Cancer Society.

The Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association will partner with OFA, the association of horticulture professionals and the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) to plan and promote the 2013 TPIE Short Course, FNGLA officials said in a statement.

The Short Course will be held during FNGLA’s Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition Jan. 23-25 in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

“In an ever-changing industry environment,” the statement said, “FNGLA, OFA and PLANET embrace the benefits of working together to deliver extraordinary educational opportunities for all of their members.”