The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) created the Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) Program in 2019 to offset the cost of food safety certification for small and medium-sized farms.
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
- a 2025 food safety certification issued during the 2025 calendar year, and
- have paid eligible expenses. Expenses incurred by the applicant but that have not yet been paid will not be eligible.
- Be a specialty crop operation and meet the definition of a small or medium-sized business.
- A small business has an average annual monetary value of specialty crops sold during the three years preceding the program year of no more than $500,000.
- A medium-sized business has an average annual monetary value of specialty crops sold during the three years 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, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Eligible expenses include those associated with developing, maintaining, or updating a food safety plan; obtaining food safety certification (including inspection fees); certification upload fees; microbiological testing; and training expenses.
The amount reimbursed varies depending on the type of expense.
Find more information about eligible expenses and how to apply at https://www.farmers.gov/coronavirus/pandemic-assistance/food-safety.
Visit Farmers.gov to read frequently asked questions about FSCSC. And click here to learn more about CCOF’s Food Safety Certification program, designed to complement organic certification.
