The USDA Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program offers financial assistance for specialty crop operations that incur eligible food safety expenses, including the cost of renewing or receiving a new food safety certification, and a percentage of the related expenses.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program helps eligible growers pay for on-farm food safety program expenses related to renewing or receiving a new food safety certification. This program aims to help offset the costs that are associated with complying with regulatory requirements and market-driven food safety certification requirements.
To be eligible for this program the farm and applicant must:
Have obtained or renewed a:
2024 food safety certification that was issued between June 26, 2024, and December 31, 2024; or
2025 food safety certification issued during the 2025 calendar year, AND
Have paid eligible expenses. Expenses that have been incurred by the applicant, but have not yet been paid, will not be eligible.
Eligible expenses can include developing, maintaining, or updating a food safety plan, food safety certification, certification upload fees, microbiological testing, and training expenses.
Ineligible expenses include infrastructure improvements, equipment, supplies, salaries and benefits, and fees or penalties for late payment.
Be a specialty crop operation; and meet the definition of a small business or a medium-sized business.
A small business has an average annual monetary value of specialty crops the applicant sold during the 3-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 the applicant sold during the 3-year period preceding the program year of at least $500,001 but no more than $1,000,000.
Be located in the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
The Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program application period for calendar year 2024 will be July 1, 2024, through January 31, 2025. The application period for 2025 will be January 1, 2025, through January 31, 2026. For more information on the program and how to apply, please visit the USDA FSCSC website, FSCSC FAQ Page, or visit your local USDA Service Center.
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Article by Allissa Conley, Produce Safety Technician