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Wes Kline, Agricultural Agent
Time is running out to apply for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) program for 2025 which opened Jan. 1, 2025, and runs through Jan. 31, 2026. The program has been expanded to include medium-sized businesses in addition to small businesses. Eligible specialty crop growers can apply for assistance for expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification.
Program Details
FSCSC covers a percentage of the specialty crop operation’s cost of obtaining or renewing its on-farm food safety certification, as well as a portion of related expenses. Eligible FSCSC applicants must be a specialty crop operation; meet the definition of a small or medium-size business and have paid eligible expenses related to certification. Most of the reimbursements cover 75% of the cost.
- 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 the applicant sold during the three-year period preceding the program year of at least $500,001 but no more than $1,000,000.
Specialty crop operations can receive the following cost assistance: - Developing a food safety plan for first-time food safety certification (75% no maximum).
- Maintaining or updating an existing food safety plan (75% up to $675).
- Food safety certification (75% up to $2,000).
- Certification upload fees (75% up to $375).
- Microbiological testing for products, soil amendments and water (75% for each up to 5 tests).
- Training (100% up to $500).
FSCSC payments are calculated separately for each eligible cost category.
Details about payment rates and limitations are available at farmers.gov/food-safety.
Applying for Assistance
For program year 2025, the application period began Jan. 1, 2025, and runs through Jan. 31, 2026. 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.
For more details visit your local Farm Service Agency office or go to
farmers.gov/food-safety for additional program details, eligibility information
and application forms.