USDA offers a variety of programs and services to support specialty crops businesses of all sizes and across the supply chain. This webpage is a resource hub for specialty crops producers, handlers, processors, retailers and international traders to find the help when they need.
Specialty Crops Competitiveness Initiative
In November 2023, USDA announced it is initiating a new effort to support the U.S. specialty crops industry. The initiative aims to increase the competitiveness of specialty crops products in foreign markets, enhance domestic marketing, and improve production and processing practices.
As part of the initiative, USDA is seeking feedback from the specialty crops industry. In addition to direct industry outreach, USDA has published a Request for Information to receive comments from industry stakeholders.
- Request for Information (Comments are due by March 8, 2024)
- USDA Launches Initiative to Enhance Competitiveness of the U.S. Specialty Crops Industry
Specialty Crops Resource Directory
This interactive directory contains a comprehensive list of all the available resources USDA offers for specialty crops businesses. Each program or service is listed to show whether it supports specialty crops producers, handlers, processors, retail businesses, or trade efforts. The directory is also available as a PDF for printing (PDF, 1.6 MB).
| Agency | Program / Service | Business Type |
|---|---|---|
| Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) | TEFAP Farm to Food Bank Project | Producer Handler Processor |
| Farm Service Agency (FSA) | Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) | Producer |
| Farm Service Agency (FSA) | Emergency Relief Program (ERP) (Phase 1 and Phase 2) | Producer |
| Farm Service Agency (FSA) | Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program | Producer |
| Farm Service Agency (FSA) | Farm Loan Programs | Producer |
| Farm Service Agency (FSA) | Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) Program | Producer |
| Farm Service Agency (FSA) | Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) Program | Producer |
| Farm Service Agency (FSA) | Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) | Producer |
| Farm Service Agency (FSA) | Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) | Producer Handler |
| Farm Service Agency (FSA) | Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP) | Producer |
| Farm Service Agency (FSA) | Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment (RTCP) Program | Producer Trade |
| Farm Service Agency (FSA) | Tree Assistance Program (TAP) | Producer |
| Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) | Resource Conservation | Producer |
| Risk Management Agency (RMA) | Specialty Crop Insurance Programs | Producer |
| Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) | Audit-Based Food Safety Verification | Producer Handler Processor Retail Trade |
| Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) | Commodity Procurement Program (CPP) | Producer Handler Processor |
| Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) | Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) | Producer Handler Retail Trade |
| Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) | Export Fruit Acts | Producer Handler Processor |
| Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) | Federal Marketing Orders | Producer Handler Processor |
| Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) | Inspection, Grading, and Certification | Producer Handler Processor Retail Trade |
| Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) | Laboratory Approval Program (LAP) | Producer Handler Trade |
| Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) | Minimum Quality and Handling Standards for Domestic and Imported Peanuts | Producer Handler Processor |
| Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) | National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard (BE Standard) | Producer Processor Retail Trade |
| Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) | National Organic Program (NOP) | Producer Handler Processor Retail Trade |
| Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) | National Science Laboratories (NSL) | Producer |
| Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) | Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) | Producer Handler Processor Retail |
| Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) | Pesticide Data Program (PDP) | Producer Handler Trade |
| Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) | Research and Promotion (R&P) Programs | Producer Handler Processor Trade |
| Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) | Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI) Cooperative Agreements | Handler Processor |
| Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) | Section 608e Import Requirements | Producer Handler Processor Retail |
| Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) | Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) | Producer Handler Processor Retail |
| Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) | Specialty Crop Multi-State Program (SCMP) | Producer Handler Processor |
| Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) | Specialty Crops Market News | Producer Handler Processor Retail Trade |
| Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) | Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) | Producer Handler Processor |
| Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) | U.S. Grade Standards | Producer Handler Processor Retail Trade |
| Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) | Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) Program | Producer Handler Processor Retail |
| Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) | Domestic Pest Evaluation and Response | Producer Handler Processor Trade |
| Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) | Domestic Specialty Crop Pests Program | Producer Handler Processor Retail Trade |
| Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) | International Phytosanitary and Management Standards Program (IPMSP) | Producer Handler Processor Trade |
| Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) | National Clean Plant Network (NCPN) | Producer Handler Processor Trade |
| Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) | Plant Protection Act (PPA) 7721 | Producer Handler Processor Trade |
| Office of the Chief Economist (OCE) | Office of Pest Management Policy (OPMP) | Producer Handler Processor Trade |
| Agricultural Research Service (ARS) | Investments in Research | Producer Handler Processor Retail Trade |
| Economic Research Service (ERS) | Research and Market Outlook Programs | Producer Handler Processor Retail Trade |
| National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) | Interregional Research Project #4 (IR-4) | Trade |
| National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) | NIFA Funding | Producer Handler Processor Retail |
| National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) | Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) | Producer Handler Processor Retail Trade |
| Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS) | Agriculture Innovation Centers (AIC) Program | Producer Processor Retail |
| Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS) | Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan (B&I) Program | Producer Handler Processor Retail Trade |
| Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS) | Intermediary Relending Program | Handler Processor Retail Trade |
| Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS) | Rural Business Development Grants (RBDG) | Producer Handler Processor Retail Trade |
| Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS) | Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) Program | Producer Handler Processor Retail Trade |
| Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS) | Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) | Producer Handler Processor Retail Trade |
| Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS) | Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) | Producer Processor Retail |
| Rural Housing Service (RHS) | Off-Farm Labor Housing | Producer |
| Rural Housing Service (RHS) | On-Farm Labor Housing | Producer |
| Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) | Agribusiness Trade Missions (ATMs) | Producer Handler Processor Retail Trade |
| Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) | Agricultural Trade Promotion Program (ATP) | Producer Handler Processor Trade |
| Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) | Cochran Fellowship Program | Producer Handler Processor Retail Trade |
| Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) | Emerging Markets Program (EMP) | Producer Handler Processor Trade |
| Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) | Export Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-102) | Trade |
| Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) | Facility Guarantee Program (FGP) | Handler Trade |
| Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) | Foreign Market Development (FMD) Program | Producer Handler Processor Trade |
| Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) | Global Pesticide Maximum Residue Level (MRL) Standards | Producer |
| Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) | Market Access Program (MAP) | Producer Handler Processor Trade |
| Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) | Quality Samples Program (QSP) | Producer Handler Processor Trade |
| Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) | Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) Program | Producer Handler Processor Trade |
| Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) | USDA-Endorsed International Trade Shows | Producer Handler Processor Retail Trade |
| Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) | U.S. Specialty Crops Trade Issues Reports | Producer Handler Trade |