Overview

The Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops 

(FSCSC) Program provides assistance to specialty crop 

operations that incurred eligible on-farm food safety 

program expenses in 2022 and 2023.

These operations incur significant costs to comply 

with regulatory requirements and market-driven food 

safety certification requirements each year with little 

opportunity to recover increased costs.

Who is Eligible?

To be eligible for FSCSC applicants must meet the 

following:

• Be a specialty crop operation;

• Have obtained or renewed a:

• 2022 food safety certification that was issued 

between June 21, 2022 and December 31, 2022; or

• 2023 food safety certification issued during 

calendar year 2023; and

• Have paid eligible expenses;

• Meet the definition of a small business or very 

small business; and

• Be located in the United States, District of Columbia, 

the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, 

American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or the 

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

FOOD SAFETY CERTIFICATION FOR SPECIALTY CROPS

PROGRAM 

YEAR

ELIGIBLE 

CERTIFICATION 

DATE 

APPLICATION 

DEADLINE

2022 June 21, 2022 - 

December 31, 2022 January 31, 2023

2023 January 1, 2023 - 

December 31, 2023 January 31, 2024

What Expenses are Eligible?

Specialty crop operations may receive reimbursement 

for developing an initial food safety plan, maintaining 

or updating an existing food safety plan, food safety 

certification, certification upload fees, microbiological 

testing, and training.

Specialty crop operations who obtain their food safety 

certification through a group model under a food 

safety management system are eligible for their share 

of eligible expenses paid by the group, in addition to 

any eligible expense incurred individually.

What Expenses are not Eligible?

Ineligible expenses include infrastructure 

improvements, equipment, supplies, salaries and 

benefits of employees, and fees or penalties for 

late payment.

FACTSHEET • JANUARY 2023 farmers.gov/food-safety
FOOD SAFETY CERTIFICATION FOR SPECIALTY CROPS 2

What are the Maximum Payment Rates?

PAYMENT AMOUNT OF ELIGIBLE COSTS

CATEGORY OF 

ELIGIBLE EXPENSES

 HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED

FARMER OR RANCHER ALL OTHER APPLICANTS

Development of a food safety 

plan for first-time certification 75 percent (no maximum) 50 percent (no maximum)

Maintaining or updating a 

food safety plan 75 percent, up to a maximum of $375 50 percent, up to a maximum of $250

Food safety certification 75 percent, up to a maximum of $2,000 50 percent, up to a maximum of $2,000

Certification upload fees 75 percent, up to a maximum of $375 50 percent, up to a maximum of $250

Microbiological testing – 

products 75 percent, up to 5 tests 50 percent, up to 5 tests

Microbiological testing – soil 

amendments 75 percent, up to 5 tests 50 percent, up to 5 tests

Microbiological testing – 

water 75 percent, up to 5 tests 50 percent, up to 5 tests

Training 100 percent, up to a maximum of $300 100 percent, up to a maximum of $200

How to Apply

Eligible specialty crop operations may apply for FSCSC by 

completing the FSA-888, Food Safety Certification 

for Specialty Crops application, and submitting it to 

any FSA county office. A complete application includes all 

the following, which may be downloaded at 

farmers.gov/food-safety:

• FSA-888, Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops 

(FSCSC) Application

• AD-2047, Customer Data Worksheet, for new 

customers or existing customers who need to 

update their customer profile

• CCC-860, Socially Disadvantaged, Limited Resource, 

Beginning and Veteran Farmer or Rancher 

Certification (if applicable)

• If requested by FSA, the applicant must provide 

supporting documentation to substantiate the 

expenses. Examples of supporting documentation 

include paid invoices, purchase receipts, test results, 

food safety plans, training documentation, and other 

records determined acceptable by COC.

Where to Apply

You may apply at one of over 2,100 FSA offices 

nationwide. Applications may also be submitted 

by mail, fax, email, hand delivery or by electronic 

means. Please contact the FSA county office prior to 

sending applications electronically for instructions and 

assistance. The FSCSC application and associated forms 

are available online at farmers.gov/food-safety.

Who to Call for Help

Producers interested in one-on-one support with 

the FSCSC program application can contact our call 

center at 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA 

employee ready to offer assistance.

More Information

This fact sheet is for informational purposes only; 

other restrictions may apply. For more information 

about FSCSC, visit farmers.gov/food-safety or contact 

your local FSA office. To find your local FSA office, visit 

farmers.gov/service-locator.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

FACTSHEET • JANUARY 2023