Specialty crop growers are facing significant financial pressure and economic assistance tailored to the realities of specialty crop production has been a central advocacy priority in 2026.
In February, USDA announced the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers Program, the specialty crop component of the December 2025 relief package that allocated $11 billion for Title I crops and $1 billion for specialty crops and sugar. While USApple and Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance partners urged a revenue-based model similar to MASC or CFAP 2, USDA ultimately aligned the program with the acreage-based Farmer Bridge Assistance framework.
USApple continues to press the issue for more economic assistance through congressional meetings, coalition partnerships, media engagement, and social media amplification. A social media post highlighting that grower prices have fallen 28% over the past three years while costs continue to rise—tagging House and Senate leadership—was re-posted 45 times, helping extend the message beyond Capitol Hill and underscore the urgency of this priority.
Because specialty crops account for roughly one-third of total U.S. crop sales, USApple is urging lawmakers to ensure any agricultural relief package dedicates at least one-third of funding, no less than $5 billion, to specialty crop producers.
This same message was carried directly to lawmakers by USApple’s Capitol Hill Day attendees, who underscored the need for economic assistance that reflects the realities of specialty crop production.
