Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program

How the Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program Works

The FSCSC program provides financial assistance for specialty crop operations that incur eligible on-farm food safety program expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification. This program helps offset costs to comply with regulatory requirements and market-driven food safety certification requirements. 

FSCSC provides funds to specialty crop operations that incur eligible on-farm food safety program expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification. FSCSC will cover a percentage of the specialty crop operation’s cost of obtaining or renewing their certification, as well as a percentage of their related expenses.

Program Eligibility

Eligibility requirements for FSCSC applicants are outlined below. We recommend you review these requirements before initiating your FSCSC application.

To be eligible for FSCSC, an 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.
• 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. 

Please note, eligible expenses for FSCSC are available by clicking the boxes below. Ineligible expenses include infrastructure improvements, equipment, supplies, salaries and benefits, and fees or penalties for late payment.

Eligible Expenses

Please click below to learn more about the categories of eligible expenses and payment amounts for eligible expenses.

Specialty crop operations that obtain food safety certification through a group model under a food safety management system are eligible to apply for assistance for their share of eligible expenses paid by the group, in addition to any eligible expenses they incur individually. If requested by the Fam Service Agency, specialty crop operations certified as part of a group under a food safety management system must provide documentation of the applicant’s portion of the group’s expenses from the entity responsible for maintaining the group’s certification. 

FSCSC payments are calculated separately for each category of eligible costs based on the percentages and maximum payment amounts as described in the sections above. Applicants must report any previous cost share assistance received for the expenses included on their application.  

The Farm Service Agency will issue payments for program year 2024 following approval of the application. For program year 2025, FSA will issue 50% of the calculated payment 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.

Apply for the Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crop Program

The FSCSC 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.

Eligible specialty crop operations could apply for FSCSC by working directly with the Farm Service Agency office at their local USDA Service Center. Applications were accepted via mail, fax, hand delivery, or electronic means.  

Alternatively, producers with an eAuthentication account may apply for FSCSC via our FSCSC Application Portal. Applications will be completed, electronically signed, and submitted directly to your local USDA Service Center through this online system. Please reference our FSCSC Application Portal User Guide for additional information, including step-by-step application instructions. Producers interested in creating an eAuthentication account should visit farmers.gov/account to learn more.

The following forms are needed to apply for FSCSC:

• FSA-888-1, Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) Program For Program Years 2024 and 2025 Application: This form includes a certification of the applicant’s status as a specialty crop operation and a small or medium sized business, and their eligible expenses. Complete the form according to the FSA-888-1 instructions.
• AD-2047, Customer Data Worksheet: This form will be required if not already on file with the Farm Service Agency and documents personal information that positively identifies the customer. Existing customers can also use this form to update their customer profile. Complete the form according to the AD-2047 instructions.
• SF-3881, ACH Vendor/Miscellaneous Payment Enrollment Form: This form will be required if not already on file with the Farm Service Agency and will be used to collect your banking information to allow USDA to make payments to you via direct deposit. 
• Supporting Documentation, if requested: Please note that applicants may be required to provide additional documentation to the Farm Service Agency, if necessary, to substantiate the expenses reported on the application. Examples of supporting documentation include paid invoices, purchase receipts, test results, food safety plans, and certifications, training documentation, and other records determined acceptable by the Farm Service Agency.

You are encouraged to contact the Farm Service Agency office at your local USDA Service Center with any questions about FSCSC, program eligibility, or the application process. You may also call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to provide one-on-one assistance. 

Additional Resources

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program
• Fact Sheet: Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops for Program Years 2024 and 2025
• June 26, 2024 News Release: USDA Expands Funding Opportunities for Specialty Crop Growers to Help Offset On-Farm Food Safety Expenses for 2024 and 2025