Specialty Crops Industry Newsletter - July 2020

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USDA AMS Specialty Crops Program Newsletter - July 2020

A Message to Our Industry Partners

Sonia Jimenez, Deputy Administrator, Specialty Crops Programs

Jimenez

The USDA AMS Specialty Crops Program (SCP) personnel continue to lead the way in meeting the needs of the agricultural industry. Whether onsite or online, SCP has experienced no break in continuity of services to the industry. Articles in this edition of our newsletter highlight actions driven by industry requests.

Specialty Crops Inspection Division (SCID) staff continue to provide the inspection and audit services protecting the food supply chain. Specialty Crops Market News provides free, unbiased price and sales data to assist in the marketing and distribution of farm commodities through our professional field and headquarters staff. Our Marketing Order & Agreements Division (MOAD) and Promotion & Economics Division (PED) continue facilitating domestic and international marketing of U.S. agricultural products, undeterred by the ongoing COVID-19 challenges we all face in these challenging times. All SCP offices are open for business, either in person or remotely and SCP field services continue unabated with appropriate social distancing and protective equipment. 

We’re excited about our ongoing activities in the Farmers to Families Food Box Program and the restarted Fruit & Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (FVIAC), also highlighted in this edition.

I also encourage all specialty crop farmers to apply now for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). It is designed to help you with offset price declines and additional marketing costs because of the coronavirus pandemic. You don’t have to struggle with the application. Contact the CFAP Call Center at 877-508-8364. An expert from USDA will provide one-on-one support with the CFAP application process from start to finish.

I look forward to hearing from you to help identify any way the USDA AMS Specialty Crops Program may be able to assist you.

Exciting New Opportunities thru CFAP

Jeffrey Davis, Business Development, Specialty Crops Program

Interested in Additional Commodities Now Eligible In CFAP?

CFAP Portal Graphic

Information is available about additional commodities now eligible for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), which helps offset price declines and additional marketing costs because of the coronavirus pandemic. The USDA and AMS Specialty Crops Program made adjustments to the program based on comments received from agricultural producers and organizations and review of market data. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is accepting applications for CFAP through Aug. 28, 2020.

SCP Associate Deputy Administrator Charles Stephens heads our efforts as the AMS CFAP Program Manager. His role involves managing AMS coordination with the USDA Farm Services Agency (FSA). Charles assists FSA with questions originating from SCP applications and is the technical point-of-contact on commodities being added. He also helps lead our economist’s efforts in data collection and review, as we worked closely with industry to gather data not previously available to make further decisions. He also regularly briefs industry groups on CFAP. Charles reviews market news data and forwards recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture’s office. He will also lead oversight on conducting spot-check audits, which review payments to recipients to safeguard the public.

If you previously applied for CFAP but the commodity for which you applied was ineligible and your application was disapproved, you must submit a new application if the commodity is now eligible. 

If you have already applied for CFAP and produced eligible commodities and ineligible commodities, may amend your original application to include the commodities newly designated as eligible. The list of specialty crop commodities already approved for payment is available at the link below; please note we are still considering more. A new application is not required. Contact your FSA office to assist with the amendment.

View Eligible Commodities

You can also share CFAP information with other specialty crops growers with FSA’s Stakeholder Toolkit. Thanks for your help getting this information out to the specialty crops community.  


Specialty Crops Inspection Division Meets All Challenges Head-On

 Dana Stewart, Chief of Staff      Specialty Crops Inspection Division, Specialty Crops Program

Grape Inspections from Nogales, AZ (Jun 2020)

AMS Specialty Crops Program promotes Secretary Perdue’s motto, “Do Right & Feed Everyone” even more now than ever. The Specialty Crops Inspection (SCI) Division deployed a Rapid Response Team (RRT) of 25 inspectors and Federal Program Managers to Nogales, AZ last month.  We sent our expert team to the border crossing to ensure uninterrupted trade of Mexican tomatoes and table grapes when our State cooperators were unable to meet inspection demand due to illnesses and absences related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Carrying out this level of work during a national crisis is extraordinary. In all, the team delivered more than 1,900 certificates on 2,000 truckloads of table grapes via the Nogales border crossing in record time!

Learn More Now


USDA Announces Additional Contracts for the Farmers to Families Food Box Program

Food Box Program Sticker

As part of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, USDA is exercising authority under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act to purchase and distribute agricultural products to those in need. While deliveries from the base period of performance (May 15 – June 30) have ceased, AMS continues to receive and tabulate invoices for deliveries during that period. AMS  recorded 35.3 million food boxes invoiced for purchases totaling $1.2 billion in Round One. In Round Two, our aim is to purchase $1.47 billion July 1st through August 31st.  A great tool to help your understanding is the Farmers to Families Food Box Program FAQs. Help us help America through this great program!

Learn More Now


F&V Industry Advisory Committee Selected

Welcome Our 2020-2022 Members


The Secretary of Agriculture announced the appointment of 24 industry representatives to the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (FVIAC) July 9, 2020. The reappointed and newly appointed members will serve terms of up to two years beginning immediately and ending in July 2022. The appointees were selected from nominations received in November 2019 resulting from the Oct. 22, 2019 announcement of the re-establishment of the committee and request for nominations.

Originally chartered in 2001, the FVIAC advises the Secretary of Agriculture on issues affecting the fruit and vegetable industry. Committee members represent organic and non-organic growers, shippers, wholesalers, retailers, industry trade associations, importers, processors, foodservice suppliers, food brokers, state departments of agriculture and farmers markets on local, regional and national levels. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) ensures the committee is administered according to the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

More information about the committee is available on the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee webpage on the AMS website.

Importing Fruits, Vegetables & Specialty Crops Using Automated Commercial Environment (ACE)

Andrew Hatch    Deputy Director, AMS SCP Marketing Order & Agreements Division

Andrew Hatch

Deadline for ACE Electronic Implementation is Sept. 2, 2020

MOAD’s Section 8E compliance support producer-driven programs with government oversight by ensuring imports of certain products meet the same quality standards as those applied to domestic products handled under Federal marketing orders. Our webinar recording details the ACE electronic implementation, a great resource for importers, brokers, and industry stakeholders. In partnership with the AMS Specialty Crops Inspection Division and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection,  we facilitate timely access to information on imported products and the completion of mandatory inspections.

Learn More Now