The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that federal grants remain available for people interested in boosting Michigan's fruit and vegetable industry.

USDA grants range from $10,000 to $75,000, and are designed to fund projects in areas such as marketing, research, distribution and safety.

Eligible applicants include nonprofit organisations, government agencies, for-profit organisations and universities, although they must be recognised by the IRS and be located in Michigan.

Applications must show how their projects could benefit specialty crops, a broad category that includes tree fruits such as cherries and apples as well as vegetables, maple syrup and even Christmas trees.