Goehring awards orchard grants

What this means

A factual summary is pending editorial review. The complete official release is reproduced below with issuer attribution and a direct link to the original publication.

Official release

Source material from North Dakota Department of Agriculture. The wording below is the issuer’s statement.

BISMARCK – Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has awarded $120,000 for four orchard grants.

“North Dakota has more than 20 community orchards that offer a wide variety of apples, plums, pears, berries and more. The projects provide educational opportunities and foster community spirit by bringing people together to plant and tend these orchards,” said Goehring. “Community members and students can learn about proper planting, watering, pruning, tree care, pollination, harvesting, fruit preservation and more. The fruits produced will benefit communities, schools and those in need.”

The grants were awarded to:

Spirit Lake Tribe, Tokio: $48,880 to establish a five-acre community orchard to increase food security and promote healthy eating

City of Maddock Shade Tree Committee: $1,370.69 to establish a permanent public orchard in a student-planted arboretum near Maddock Public School

McKenzie County Soil Conservation District: $37,329.31 to establish a demonstration orchard with the overall purpose of demonstrating species adaptability for western North Dakota and soil health principles in McKenzie County

Turtle Mountain Community High School, Belcourt: $32,420 to establish a dynamic outdoor learning environment that enhances agricultural education, environmental stewardship and community engagement

According to United States Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (USDA-ERS), only 15% of adults and 23% of children consume the recommended daily serving of fruits for a healthy diet.

Organizations that wish to start their own orchards should request a copy of the updated 2026 North Dakota State University publication “Starting a Community Orchard in North Dakota,” by reaching out to Jenna Nieters, Local Foods Marketing Specialist, at 701-328-2659 or jnieters@nd.gov.

The funds for these grants come from the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, Project No. 25SCBPND1330.

Release text attributed to North Dakota Department of Agriculture. Consult the official publication for any subsequent corrections or updates.