Sponsors (10)
The bill directs federal funding to boost domestic marketing and demand for U.S. specialty crops, benefiting growers and small ag organizations, while imposing ongoing federal spending, recipient cost-sharing, and new administrative requirements that may strain smaller participants.
Specialty crop growers (fruits, vegetables, nuts, etc.) and related producers gain access to a $75 million per year federal fund for domestic marketing to expand demand for American specialty crops.
Eligible cooperatives, trade associations, and small businesses can receive grants to run marketing campaigns that may increase sales and market share for U.S. specialty crop products.
Taxpayers are responsible for $75 million in annual federal spending plus related administrative costs to run the program.
Grant recipients must provide at least a 25% non‑Federal match, which may strain smaller organizations, requiring them to shift limited resources or find new funding partners.
Compliance, monitoring, audits, and reporting requirements create additional administrative burden for applicants and recipients, increasing time and cost to participate.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Establishes a USDA grant program funding domestic specialty-crop market promotion with a 25% non‑Federal match and $75M authorized each year from FY2026.
Official title: To amend the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program under which the Secretary will award grants to eligible organizations to encourage the development, maintenance, and expansion of commercial domestic market for domestically produced specialty crop commodities.
Introduced August 22, 2025 by David G. Valadao · Last progress August 22, 2025
Creates a USDA grant program to help U.S. producers of specialty crops boost domestic market development and marketing. The Agriculture Marketing Service will award grants to eligible organizations that submit an approved marketing plan; recipients must provide at least a 25% non‑Federal match and grants may be multi‑year. The bill authorizes $75 million per year beginning in FY2026 and allows the Secretary to use funds for administration, monitoring, evaluation, audits, and to terminate grants for noncompliance.