USDA Opens Application Window for New Specialty Crop Program

The Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program, administered by the Farm Service Agency, will provide eligible specialty crop producers “with marketing assistance payments that will help them engage in activities that aid in expanding domestic specialty crop markets or in developing new markets for their specialty crops,” USDA noted. 

USDA Expands Funding Opportunities for Specialty Crop Growers to Help Offset On-Farm Food Safety Expenses for 2024 and 2025    

FSCSC assists specialty crop operations that incurred eligible on-farm food safety certification and expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety. FSCSC covers a percentage of the specialty crop operation’s cost of obtaining or renewing its certification, as well as a portion of related expenses.  

USDA Announces $9.98M in Grants Awarded to Strengthen the Specialty Crop Industry

April 18, 2022 USDA AMS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced it has awarded $9.98 million to 14 collaborative, multi-state projects impacting 28 states to enhance the competitiveness of U.S. specialty crops. The funding is made possible through the Specialty Crop Multi-State Program (SCMP), reauthorized by the 2018 Farm Bill.

USDA Announces Over $243M in Grants Awarded to Strengthen the Specialty Crop Industry

October 29, 2021 USDA AMS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced an investment of more than $243 million in grants to support specialty crops, including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts and nursery crops through two USDA programs – the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and the Specialty Crop Research Initiative grants program.

USDA to Host December Webinars on Importing Specialty Crops

December 1, 2020 USDA AMS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will host webinars on December 3 and 9 to highlight new procedures for submitting documents required for importing specialty crops into the United States. U.S.