The Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program provides financial assistance to specialty crop producers to help them expand domestic markets or develop new markets for their crops. 

Sign up starts: Dec, 10 2024

Deadline to apply: Jan. 8, 2025

MASC helps specialty crop producers offset higher marketing costs related to:

• Tenderness and perishability of specialty crops like fruits, vegetables, floriculture, nursey crops and herbs;

• Specialized handling and transport equipment with temperature and humidity control;

• Packaging to prevent damage; 

• Moving perishables to market quickly; and

• Higher labor costs. 

Common examples of specialty crops can be found on USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service’s specialty crop definition webpage. 

For full description, eligibility criteria and how to apply, visit:

https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/marketing-assistance-specialty-crops-masc