The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expanding the Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) program to include medium-sized and small businesses. Eligible specialty crop growers can apply for assistance for expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification.
The program includes assistance for 2024 and 2025 expenses. Producers can apply for assistance on their calendar year 2024 expenses from now through Jan. 31, 2025. For program year 2025, the application period will be Jan. 1, 2025 through Jan. 31, 2026.
“The Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops program helps producers cover costs of on-farm food safety certification in order to meet regulatory requirements and access additional markets,” said USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Zach Ducheneaux.
FSCSC covers a percentage of a specialty crop operation’s cost of obtaining or renewing its food safety certification, as well as a portion of related expenses.
An eligible FSCSC applicant must be a specialty crop operation, meet the definition of a small or medium-size business and have paid eligible expenses related to certification.
A small business has an average annual monetary value of specialty crops sold by the applicant during the three-year period preceding the program year of no more than $500,000. A medium-size business has an average annual monetary value of specialty crops sold by the applicant during the same three-year period of at least $500,001 but no more than $1 million.
COVERED COSTS
Specialty crop operations can receive assistance for these 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 eligible cost category. See details about payment rates and limitations here.
Payments will be issues as applications are processed and approved. FSA will issue 50% of the calculated payment for program year 2025 following application approval, with the remaining amount to be paid after the application deadline. If calculated payments exceed the amount of available funding, payments will be prorated.
HOW TO APPLY
Specialty crop producers can apply by completing the FSA-888-1, Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program (FSCSC) for Program Years 2024 and 2025application. The application, along with the AD-2047 (Customer Data Worksheet) and SF-3881 (ACH Vendor/Miscellaneous Payment Enrollment Form), if not already on file with USDA FSA, are required. Forms can be submitted to the FSA office at any USDA Service Center nationwide by mail, fax, hand delivery or via electronic means. Alternatively, growers with an eAuthentication account can apply for FSCSC online. An eAuthentication account can be created here.
To speak directly with an FSA employee for assistance, call 877-508-8364.
Source: USDA FSA
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