Support Economic Aid for Specialty Crops

Financial assistance for specialty crop growers continues to be left out of current congressional funding proposals. With rising input costs, labor shortages, and market and weather challenges, the lack of dedicated relief for our sector is unacceptable. That said, this fight is not over.   

The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA), which IFPA co-chairs, is actively engaging Congress to secure meaningful support for specialty crop producers. Specialty crops account for one-third of U.S. crop value and provide the fruits, vegetables, and other products that are essential to a healthy diet. Yet recent agricultural assistance programs have fallen short of addressing the unique challenges facing our industry. 

Congress must ensure any agricultural aid package recognizes documented market losses in 2026 and beyond, including impacts from foodborne illness events such as the recent cyclospora outbreak, trade disruptions leading to higher input costs, and other significant market shocks. We are also urging lawmakers to dedicate no less than one-third of all agricultural assistance funding to specialty crop producers, which would equate to at least $5 billion under current proposals. 

Your voice is critical. Members of Congress need to hear directly from the growers and businesses. Enter your information on this page to send a pre-drafted letter now to your lawmakers and urge them to provide immediate economic relief for specialty crop growers.  

Thank you for standing up for specialty crops.