	Introduction

U.S. farmers grow more than 250 types of fruit, vegetable, tree nut, flower, ornamental nursery, and turfgrass crops in addition to the major bulk commodity crops. Government programs affecting the sector are not limited to USDA. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA, within the Department of Health and Human Services) is responsible for assuring the safety of specialty crops for human consumption, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the safety of pesticides used on specialty crops and sets tolerances for permissible residues (which are enforced by FDA). Crop Insurance and Noninsured Disaster Assistance

The Risk Management Agency administers the federal crop insurance program, which Congress reformed most recently in P.L. Annual USDA appropriations acts provide funding for RMA salaries and expenses to operate the program. Protection for Sellers

The Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act of 1930 (PACA) and the Produce Agency Act of 1937 (7 U.S.C. Under these acts, the Agricultural Marketing Service administers a program to protect producers, shippers, distributors, and retailers from loss due to unfair or fraudulent practices in the marketing of fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. Trade Remedies

In the event of suspected unfair competition from foreign imports, U.S. law makes available certain remedies that the specialty crop industry can pursue, not within USDA, but from the Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission . Disease and Pest Protection for U.S. These data provide the basis for more than 70 periodical reports (some issued daily) that provide real-time production and market information for the U.S. agricultural sector and USDA program administrators. The state agricultural experiment stations also conduct research on this subject. The Department of Labor (DOL), the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of State are involved in administering the system generally referred to as the H-2A program (after the name of the authorizing section in the Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1952; (Sec.101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a)). Employers must demonstrate to DOL that sufficient domestic workers are not available and that employment of foreign workers will not adversely affect U.S. workers who are similarly employed.
U.S. farmers grow more than 250 types of fruit, vegetable, tree nut, flower, ornamental nursery, and turfgrass crops in addition to the major bulk commodity crops. Although specialty crops are ineligible for the federal commodity price and income support programs, they are eligible for other types of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) support, such as crop insurance, disaster assistance, and, under certain conditions, ad hoc market loss assistance payments.
The industry also benefits generally from USDA programs to enhance marketing opportunities; protect sellers from fraudulent practices in the marketplace; support and stabilize markets through purchases for USDA feeding programs; promote and facilitate exports; protect domestic production from foreign pests and diseases; and conduct research on related horticultural and economic subjects. The Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act of 1930 (PACA), the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, periodic omnibus legislation authorizing USDA programs, and annual and supplemental appropriations acts are the primary laws that govern the USDA programs affecting specialty crops.
Other federal agencies also play important roles. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA, in the Department of Health and Human Services) is responsible for assuring that fresh, frozen, canned, and imported fruits, vegetables, and nuts are safe for human consumption. The Environmental Protection Agency sets the safe limits for pesticide residues on produce, which FDA enforces. The Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission are responsible for investigating instances of suspected "dumping" of foreign goods on the U.S. market and levying antidumping taxes. The Employment and Training Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services of the Department of Homeland Security jointly administer a system for temporarily admitting foreign workers to provide seasonal labor, provided that U.S. workers are not available.
This report describes the federal programs of importance to the specialty crop sector, and provides the most recent funding information available for them. It will be updated periodically.