Washington state organizations will receive $2.6 million in federal assistance as they work to expand economic opportunities for specialty crop farmers and develop more efficient farming practices.

Grants from the USDA's Specialty Crop Block Grant Program are being administered by the state Department of Agriculture for projects to increase the competitiveness of state fruit, vegetable and horticulture growers.

Among the grants:

* Cascade Harvest Coalition will receive $249,920 to conduct a series of 30 networking and educational opportunities designed to connect local producers with local food buyers, create new marketing relationships and increase sales opportunities for farmers.

* WSDA's Farm-to-School Program will receive $250,000 to work with several organizations to expand the market for fruits and vegetables in schools and prepare farms to meet the needs of institutional buyers.

* Washington Apple Commission will receive $193,001 to increase market growth in Mexico, Russia, Thailand, India, China and the Middle East.

* Pear Bureau Northwest will receive $220,000 to increase market growth for Washington pears, apples and cherries in Mexico by conducting promotions and ad campaigns in two large retail chains.

* Washington State Horticultural Association will receive $195,000 to conduct education and outreach for Growers Response to Agricultural Safe and Sustainable Practices, a food safety audit-preparation program.

* Washington State University will receive $250,000 to conduct integrated pest management outreach and training to apple growers in preparation of the 2012 phase-out of the organophosphate insecticides used to control codling moth.

* WSU will receive $245,003 to assist Hmong farmers and other cut-flower growers in the development of sustainable insect-management techniques and marketing strategies.

* WSU will receive $157,526 for research to determine the best alternative to tillage in organic orchards.

* WSU will receive $97,075 for research to improve the practices and technologies used for growing, harvesting, storing and handling potatoes.

* WSU will receive $128,932 to measure the continued effectiveness of two herbicides currently registered for use in red raspberry production.

* WSU will receive $233,694 to develop and implement an alternative to fumigants to control Verticillium wilt, suppress soil-borne pests and reduce production costs for potatoes.

* WSU will receive $64,100 to implement and evaluate a pest education program for homeowners with fruit trees in Yakima, Franklin and Benton counties on the effective control of codling moth and western cherry fruit fly.

-- Dan Wheat