More Specialty Crops Make Cut for Coronavirus Aid

Posted by Growing Produce Staff|August 12, 2020

USDA has announced more specialty crops are now covered by its Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). This is the second lengthy addition of crops, along with other related adjustments to the federal relief program, made within six weeks. Did any of your commodities make the latest list?

The government agency collected comments and supporting data for consideration of additional commodities through most of June. Based on feedback, the following are now eligible for CFAP:

Specialty Crops: aloe leaves, bananas, batatas, bok choy, carambola (star fruit), cherimoya, chervil (french parsley), citron, curry leaves, daikon, dates, dill, donqua (winter melon), dragon fruit (red pitaya), endive, escarole, filberts, frisee, horseradish, kohlrabi, kumquats, leeks, mamey sapote, maple sap (for maple syrup), mesculin mix, microgreens, nectarines, parsley, persimmons, plantains, pomegranates, pummelos, pumpkins, rutabagas, shallots, tangelos, turnips/celeriac, turmeric, upland/winter cress, water cress, yautia/malanga, and yuca/cassava.

Other notable changes to CFAP include:

Onions (green), pistachios, peppermint, spearmint, walnuts, and watermelons – are now eligible for Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Stability (CARES) Act funding for sales losses. Originally, these commodities were only eligible for payments on marketing adjustments.
Correcting payment rates for onions (green), pistachios, peppermint, spearmint, walnuts, and watermelons.

The deadline for producers to apply for the program has been extended to September 11. Additional details can be found at farmers.gov/cfap/specialty.