DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE FOR 2023 ON FARM SAFETY EXPENSES

Specialty crop growers that experience on-farm food safety program expenses to receive a new or renewed safety certification. This is available through the Food safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program. The deadline to apply for this assistance is January 31st, 2024, the expenses also need to be for the calendar year of 2023. The goal of this program is to assist with the cost burden of on-farm food safety certification.

A few examples of costs that are eligible for this program are food safety certification, training, developing a food safety plan if it is an operations’ first-time obtaining a food safety certification, Testing products, and lastly refreshing a food safety plan. To be eligible for the on-farm food safety program, the operation must be a specialty crop grower, be obtaining a new or renewing the on-farm food safety program. The operation also needs to be classified as a very small business or very small business.

The FSA will be sending payments out after the closing of the assistance program on January 31^st, 2024. Specialty Crop growers can apply by filling out the FSAS-888 Document. There will be other documents required. If you are struggling with filling out the information or have questions, you can call 877-508-8364 to speak to a USDA employee. You can also visit the USDA Website.