2027 Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops

The Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops program is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through its Foreign Agricultural Service to support the competitiveness of U.S. specialty crop exports. The program is designed to assist U.S. organizations in addressing and overcoming sanitary, phytosanitary, and technical barriers that hinder or threaten access to foreign markets. By funding targeted technical assistance projects, the program aims to enhance market access and facilitate the expansion of U.S. agricultural exports in specialty crop sectors. This initiative reflects USDA’s broader mission to strengthen global agricultural trade and support domestic producers through strategic international engagement. The program provides grant funding to U.S. entities that can demonstrate a role or interest in exporting U.S. specialty crops. Eligible applicants include federal, state, and local government agencies as well as private organizations such as nonprofit trade associations, universities, agricultural cooperatives, and private companies. While foreign organizations may participate as partners or subrecipients, they are not eligible to receive funding directly. All applicants must maintain an active registration in the System for Award Management prior to submission. The program requires that proposed projects benefit an entire industry rather than a single company and must clearly address a specific trade barrier affecting specialty crop exports. Funding under this opportunity is anticipated to total approximately nine million dollars, with around twenty awards expected. Individual awards are capped at five hundred thousand dollars. Projects may span up to five years for non-governmental entities, though funding may be allocated incrementally based on performance and availability of funds. Cost sharing is required for most applicants, with a minimum contribution of ten percent of the requested funding, which may be provided in cash or in-kind support. Federal, state, and local government applicants are exempt from the cost share requirement. Funds may only be used for eligible activities that directly address trade barriers and cannot be used for marketing, advertising, or routine operational expenses. Applicants must submit their proposals through the Unified Export Strategy system and include comprehensive organizational and project information. Required components include a description of the organization, details of the targeted market and commodity, identification of the trade barrier, and a detailed work plan outlining project activities and expected outcomes. Applicants must also provide performance measures, budget justifications, cost share documentation, and evidence of how the project aligns with broader trade strategies. Applications must demonstrate the necessity of federal funding and explain why the proposed activities would not occur without such support. The application process includes multiple submission deadlines structured in tranches. The initial deadline occurs in mid-August, followed by additional deadlines at the end of December, March, and June, with applications reviewed on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted. Questions regarding the opportunity must be submitted by the end of July. Applications are reviewed in multiple phases, including an eligibility screening followed by a competitive evaluation based on criteria such as the significance of the trade barrier, potential trade impact, project feasibility, organizational capacity, and effectiveness of performance measures. Applications scoring below a defined threshold are not considered for funding. Successful applicants will be notified by email and must comply with all federal award requirements, including reporting and monitoring obligations. Recipients are required to submit interim and final performance and financial reports and must retain records for at least three years following project completion. USDA maintains oversight through periodic reviews and site visits to ensure compliance and project effectiveness. The program operates on a recurring basis with annual funding cycles, though future funding levels are subject to congressional appropriations. For additional information or assistance, applicants may contact the program officer via email or phone during standard business hours.

Focus on clearly defining the trade barrier and demonstrating measurable industry-wide impact; ensure strong performance metrics and detailed budget justification