USDA FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPECIALTY CROP GROWERS IS EXTENDED TO MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESSES

Medium sized businesses are now eligible to be included in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) Program. Their inclusion makes them eligible to apply for assistance for a percentage of the costs associated with obtaining or renewing a food safety certification. In addition, program assistance has been expanded for 2024 and 2025 expenses. Applicants are eligible for the program if they are a specialty crop operation, meet the program’s definition of a small or medium sized business, and paid eligible costs associated to certification.

Small Sized Business Definition: Applicant’s average annual monetary value of specialty crops sold during a three year period does not exceed $500,000.00.

Medium Sized Business Definition: Applicant’s average annual monetary value over a three year period is at least $500,001.00 but not greater than $1,000,000.00.

Cost assistance is available for the following specialty crop operations:

• Developing a food safety plan for first-time food safety certification.
• Maintaining or updating an existing food safety plan.
• Food safety certification.
• Certification upload fees.
• Microbiological testing for products, soil amendments and water.
• Training.
• Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Certification

Each eligible cost category FSCSC payment is calculated separately, and details on payment rates and limitations can be found at farmers.gov/food-safety.

FSCSC Program Application Process:

For 2024 eligible expenses, interested applicants must have applied by January 31, 2025. Once processed and approved, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) will issue payments. For 2025 eligible expenses, the application process spans from January 1, 2025 to January 31, 2026. Following 2025 application approval, FSA will issue a check for fifty percent of 2025’s calculated payment, and the remainder will be issued after the application deadline. Payments will be prorated if calculated payments are in excess of available funding.

To apply, producers need to complete:

• FSA-888-1, Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program (FSCSC) for Program Application for Years 2024 and 2025.
• AD-2047, Customer Data Worksheet
• SF-3881, ACH Vender/Miscellaneous Payment Enrollment Form
  • This can be submitted to any USDA Service Center FSA Office nationwide through mail, fax, in person, or electronically.

Producers with an eAuthentication account can apply for FSCSC funds online. Interested in creating an eAuthentication account visit farmers.gov/sign-in.

FSA employees can be contacted for assistance at 877-508-8364.

For more details on the program, eligibility, and forms go here.