Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) plans to provide up to $200 million in assistance for specialty crop producers who incur eligible on-farm food safety program expenses to obtain or renew a food safety certification in calendar years 2022 or 2023. USDA’s new Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) program will help to offset costs for specialty crop producers to comply with regulatory requirements and market-driven food safety certification requirements, which is part of USDA’s broader effort to transform the food system to create a more level playing field for small and medium producers and a more balanced, equitable economy for everyone working in food and agriculture.

The Arizona Department of Agriculture’s (AZDA) Agricultural Consultation and Training Program also provides Good Handling Practices and Good Agricultural Practices (GHP/GAP) Training and Certification Cost-Share Program for food safety. This Arizona-based certification program can tie in with the FSCSC program.

Specialty crop operations can apply for assistance for eligible expenses related to a 2022 food safety certificate issued on or after June 21, 2022, beginning June 27, 2022. USDA is delivering FSCSC to provide critical assistance for specialty crop operations, with an emphasis on equity in program delivery while building on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain disruptions. Vilsack made the announcement from Hollis, N.H., where he toured a local, family-owned farm and highlighted USDA’s efforts to help reduce costs for farmers and support local economies by providing significant funding to cut regulatory costs and increase market opportunities for farmers in New Hampshire and across the nation.

“The ongoing economic challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic have created substantial financial challenges for small and very small producers to meet regulatory requirements and access additional markets,” Vilsack said. “These challenges were particularly acute for specialty crop producers, many of whom needed to quickly and completely pivot their operations as demand shifted away from traditional markets, like restaurants and food service. As we build back better, our food systems must be both more inclusive and more competitive. By helping mitigate the costs of on-farm food safety certification, the FSCSC program will support fair, transparent food systems rooted in local and regional production and provide small-scale producers a real opportunity to bring home a greater share of the food dollar and help create jobs.”

 

Program Details 

FSCSC will assist specialty crop operations that incurred eligible on-farm food safety certification and related expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification in calendar years 2022 and 2023. For each year, FSCSC covers a percentage of the specialty crop operation’s cost of obtaining or renewing their certification, as well as a portion of their related expenses. 1400 Independence Ave. SW Washington, DC 20250 Contact: FPAC.BC.Press@usda.gov Farm Service Agency To be eligible for FSCSC, the applicant must be a specialty crop operation; meet the definition of a small business or very small business; and have paid eligible expenses related to the 2022 (issued on or after June 21, 2022) or 2023 certification.

Specialty crop operations may receive assistance for the following costs:

• 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.

FSCSC payments are calculated separately for each category of eligible costs. A higher payment rate has been set for socially disadvantaged, limited resources, beginning and veteran farmers and ranchers. Details about the payment rates and limitations can be found at farmers.gov/food-safety.

Applying for Assistance 

To be eligible for FSCSC financial assistance, specialty crop producers must:

  • Be issued their food safety certificate between June 21st, 2022 and December 31st, 2022 or during the 2023 calendar year,
  • Have paid all eligible food safety certificate expenses, and 
  • Be classified as a small or very small business. USDA classifies a small business as “an applicant that had an average annual monetary value of specialty crops the applicant sold during the 3-year period preceding the program year of more than $250,000 but not more than $500,000.” USDA classifies a very small business as “A very small business means an applicant that had an average annual monetary value of specialty crops the applicant sold during the 3-year period preceding the program year of no more than $250,000.”

Eligible expenses for FSCSC financial assistance include:

  • Developing a food safety plan. FSCSC will help cover 75% of costs incurred for operations considered socially disadvantaged, limited resource, beginning, and veteran farmer or rancher and 50% of costs incurred for all other applicants.
  • Maintaining or updating a food safety plan. FSCSC will help cover 75% of costs incurred (not to exceed $375) for operations considered socially disadvantaged, limited resource, beginning, and veteran farmer or rancher and 50% of costs incurred (not to exceed $250) for all other applicants. 
  • Food safety certification. FSCSC will help cover 75% of costs incurred (not to exceed $2,000) for operations considered socially disadvantaged, limited resource, beginning, and veteran farmer or rancher and 50% of costs incurred (not to exceed $2,000) for all other applicants.
  • Certification upload fees. FSCSC will help cover 75% of costs incurred (not to exceed $375) for operations considered socially disadvantaged, limited resource, beginning, and veteran farmer or rancher and 50% of costs incurred (not to exceed $250) for all other applicants.
  • Microbiological testing (up to five tests, including postage). FSCSC will help cover 75% of costs incurred on operations considered socially disadvantaged, limited resource, beginning, and veteran farmer or rancher and 50% of costs incurred for all other applicants.
  • Training expenses. FSCSC will help cover 100% of costs incurred (not to exceed $300) for operations considered socially disadvantaged, limited resource, beginning, and veteran farmer or rancher and 100% of costs incurred (not to exceed $200) for all other applicants.

The application period for the 2022 program year is June 27th, 2022 to January 31st, 2023. 

The application period for the 2023 program year will be announced at a later date. 

 

Link for more information on the FSCSC program: Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program | Farmers.gov

Find your local FSA agent to learn more and apply for the FSCSC program: Find Your Local Service Center | Farmers.gov