FSCSC Funding Assistance Now Available for Mid-sized Agricultural Operations
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has expanded funding assistance to both small- and medium-sized agricultural operations seeking to renew or obtain a food safety certification through the Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops program. In addition, the program will include assistance for 2024 and 2025 expenses.
FSCSC covers a percentage of expenses related to a specialty crop operation’s obtaining or renewing food safety certification. Producers can apply for assistance related to 2024 expenses beginning July 1, 2024 through January 1, 2025, and for 2025 expenses from January 1, 2025 – January 31, 2026. For the purposes of this program, a small business is defined as having average annual monetary value of specialty crops during a three-year period preceding the program of no more than $500,000; a medium-sized operation would have reported at least $500,001 - $1,000,000 during that same time period.
FSCSC cost assistance is available for:
- Developing a food safety plan for first-time certification
- Maintaining/updating an existing food safety plan
- Food safety certification
- Certification upload fees
- Microbiological testing for products, soil amendments and water
- Training
To apply, producers must complete the FSA-888-1 form, AD-2047 data worksheet and SF-3881 payment enrollment form if these are not already on file with their FSA office. Producers also may apply online if they have an eAuthentification account or may first apply for an eAuthentification account.
