Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding visited Delaware Valley University with University President Dr. Benjamin Rusiloski to review career development opportunities in horticulture and plant science. The visit highlighted the state’s new Center for Plant Excellence, a Shapiro Administration initiative launched in March 2025 to prepare students for future roles in Pennsylvania’s $132.5 billion agriculture industry.
The Center for Plant Excellence was funded with $500,000 in the governor’s first budget. It is led by Penn State Extension’s Miranda Harple and is a partnership between the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Penn State University, and industry leaders in horticulture, forestry, landscaping, specialty crops, and forest products.
Delaware Valley University professor Dr. Carla D. Garzon, who holds the K.H. Littlefield Endowed Professorship of Plant Science, serves on the center’s board along with representatives from nurseries, orchards, vineyards, tree farms, and public gardens.
The center’s first grant opportunity is open through November 6, 2025, with $125,000 available for projects addressing career development, plant health, industry visibility, business resilience, and innovation.
Pennsylvania ranks first in the U.S. for the number of floriculture businesses, with 741 operations producing $209 million in annual sales. The state’s hardwood industry contributes $21.8 billion to the economy, and Pennsylvania ranks fourth in apple production while maintaining a leading position in vegetable and small fruit sales.
Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2025-26 budget proposal includes additional agricultural investments:
- $13 million for the Ag Innovation Program, which received 159 applications for $70 million worth of projects during its first application period.
- Continued funding for the Center for Livestock and Poultry Excellence, Center for Beef Excellence, and Center for Dairy Excellence.
- Continued support for poultry producers impacted by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), with $13.5 million already distributed and $61.5 million remaining in the state’s recovery fund.
More information on the Center for Plant Excellence and its grants is available on the center’s website. Details about the governor’s agriculture budget proposal can be found at shapirobudget.pa.gov.
