INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ The state Department of Agriculture has awarded more than $425,000 to five specialty crop projects, including two spearheaded by Purdue University.

Agriculture Department Director Ted McKinney says the funding will help further enhance and promote Indiana's robust specialty crop industry.  

The projects awarded funding include Growing Places Indy's Perennial Specialty Crops project, Purdue University's Bacterial Spot of Tomatoes project, Purdue's Indiana Hops project, the Agriculture Department's Indiana Grown project and Indiana University's Specialty Crops and High Tunnels project. 

McKinney says the selected programs sustain the department's goal of boosting Indiana agriculture. The grants are used to enhance the competitiveness of Indiana's specialty crops through processors, agri-businesses, producers, local government and legislatively authorized commodity boards.