USDA Launches Marketing Assistance Program for Specialty Crops

USDA announced a new Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops initiative that will provide $2 billion to assist specialty crop growers in maintaining a strong domestic supply and expanding market opportunities for their crops. This program will expand markets by helping specialty crop growers who typically have higher marketing costs related to the tenderness and perishability of fruits, vegetables, floriculture, nursery crops and herbs; improve access to specialized handling and transport equipment with temperature and humidity control; and address packaging, moving perishables to market quickly, and higher labor costs for specialty crops. USDA anticipates applications will open in December 2024.