The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency’s $2 billion Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops program, aimed at helping producers expand markets and manage higher costs, is accepting applications through Wednesday, Jan. 8.
Funded by the Commodity Credit Corporation, MASC was announced in November alongside the $140 million Commodity Storage Assistance Program for facilities impacted by 2024 natural disasters.
“Specialty crop growers have typically faced higher marketing and handling costs relative to non-specialty crop producers due to the perishability of fruits, vegetables, floriculture, nursery crops and herbs,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “Through this marketing assistance program, we can expand U.S. specialty crop consumption and markets by providing specialty crop producers the financial support needed to help them engage in activities that broaden and enhance strategies and opportunities for marketing their commodities.”
MASC helps specialty crop produ...