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FACT SHEET:
Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops Program
January 2011

Printable version (.pdf)

The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 reauthorized the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) Program and provided mandatory Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) resources of $4 million in FY 2008, $7 million in FY 2009, $8 million in FY 2010, and $9 million in FY 2011 and FY 2012.

How the program benefits U.S. agriculture:

The TASC program is designed to assist U.S. organizations by providing funding for projects that address sanitary, phytosanitary and related technical barriers that prohibit or threaten the export of U.S. specialty crops. For purposes of the TASC program, a "specialty crop" is defined as all cultivated plants and the products thereof produced in the United States except wheat, feed grains, oilseeds, cotton, rice, peanuts, sugar, and tobacco. Examples of activities these grants may cover include seminars and workshops, study tours, field surveys, pest and disease research, and pre-clearance programs.

How the program works: TASC proposals are accepted from any U.S. organization, including, but not limited to, non-profit trade associations, universities, agricultural cooperatives, private companies, U.S. government agencies and state government agencies. The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), which administers the program, provides grant funds as direct assistance to U.S. organizations. Applicant contributions are not required, but are strongly encouraged.

Each year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announces an application period for participation in the TASC program, publishing it in the Federal Register. TASC applications undergo a competitive review process based on criteria specified in 7 CFR part 1487 and in the Federal Register announcement. Funds are awarded to applicants that demonstrate how their projects will overcome trade barriers resulting in market access retention and expansion for specialty crops. Awards are for a maximum of $500,000 per year and for projects of up to five years. Proposals may target any eligible export market, including single countries or reasonable regional groupings of countries. Applicants may submit multiple proposals, but no TASC participant may have more than five projects underway at the same time. Funds may be requested as advance payments or on a reimbursement basis. Participants are required to maintain records and documents associated with the program agreement.

Additional Information: To submit a TASC proposal or to find more about the program, contact the USDA-FAS Programs Operations Division, Grant Programs Branch; by phone: (202) 720-4327; email: podadmin@fas.usda.gov; or the Internet at: http://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/tasc/tasc.asp.

Information on FAS programs, trade data and reports are available by accessing the FAS Home Page at: http://www.fas.usda.gov.

Fiscal Year 2010 Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops Program Allocations

Participant

Project Title

Amount

Almond Board of California

European Union Health and Port Authorities Seminar and Tour

 

$24,750

Bryant Christie, Inc.

Maximum Residue Level Database Funding for Specialty Crops and Hawaiian Papayas

 

$450,662

California Citrus Quality Council

California Navel Valencia Exports to Korea Program, Korea Inspectors’ Visit

 

$124,562

California Department of Food and Agriculture

Minimizing Trade Barriers through Field Surveys for the European Grapevine Moth

 

$500,000

California Dried Plum Board

Retaining Export and Food Security of U.S. Specialty Crops: Low-Emission Methyl Bromide Fumigation for Quarantine and Pre-Shipment Uses


 

$1,458,772

California Fig Advisory Board

Encourage Japanese Government To Allow Potassium Sorbate Treatment on High-Moisture Figs

 

$100,000

California Grape and Tree Fruit League

To Develop Efficacy Data Through a Pilot Systems Approach for Peach Twig Borer for U.S. Stone Fruit to Australia

 

$54,388

California Pistachio Export Council

Improve Navel Orange Worm Control in Pistachios To Overcome Sanitary and Phytosanitary Barriers in Major Export Markets

 

$1,195,500

California Specialty Crops Council

Global Maximum Residue Levels Engaging Specialty Crops in Priority Setting, Planning, and Compliance

 

$98,000

California Strawberry Commission

Spotted Wing Drosophila Impacts in Strawberry Exports

 

$46,989

California Table Grape Commission

Post-Harvest Control of Light Brown Apple Moth on Fresh Grapes

 

$90,000

California Table Grape Export Association

Australian Phytosanitary Preclearance Program

 

$150,000

California Walnut Commission

Development of Technical Brochures

 

$66,836

Citrus Research Board of California

Mortality of Asian Citrus Psyllid, Diaphorina Citri, in California Citrus During Packaging and Export to Australia

 

$216,303

Florida Citrus Packers

Determination of Canker Survival and Transmission via Canker-Blemished Fruit Relative to International Market Access

 
 

$489,447

Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association

Management, Maintenance, and Expansion of the U.S.-Canada Pesticide Harmonization Database

 

$389,464

Georgia Peach Council/South Carolina Peach Council

Export of Fresh, Systems-Protected Georgia and South Carolina Peaches to Mexico

 

$240,000

Indian River Citrus League

Best Post-Harvest Handling Practices to Assure Canker-Free Fresh Citrus Fruit Exports

 

$120,000

Northwest Horticultural Council

Changing India’s Phytosanitary Access Requirements for Pacific Northwest Cherries; OFM Monitoring and Verification at Origin Program for the Export of Peaches and Nectarines to Mexico; Study of Potential Health Effects Associated with the Use of Wax Coatings on Produce

 

 


$66,060

Rutgers University, IR-4 Project

Actions To Facilitate Global Maximum Residue Levels for Priority Use on Specialty Crops

 

$627,199

U.S. Apple Export Council

Apple Maggot and Other Pests of Concern-Identification Treatment Methodologies and Data Collection

 

$158,122

USDA, Agricultural Research Service

Classical Biological Control of the Invasive White Peach Scale on Papaya in Hawaii; Phosphine Fumigation Treatment for Post-Harvest Inspect Control on Lettuce; Evaluating the Efficacy of Systems Approach Components for the Western Cherry Fruit Fly

 

 

 
$155,710

USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)

Development of Irradiation Treatment for High-Impact Invasive Species and Evaluation of Commodity Tolerance to Irradiation Treatments

 

 
$175,000

USDA, APHIS, Center for Plant Health Science and Technology (CPHST)

Development of Infrastructure and Capacity for U.S. Export Specialty Crops Irradiation Treatments

 

$165,000

USDA, APHIS, Plant Protection and Quarantine and CPHST

A Prototype Electronic Identification Resource To Support Agricultural Commodity Trade: California Table Grapes

 

$133,907

Washington State Department of Agriculture

Establishment of Japan “Import Tolerance” Maximum Residue Level for Bifenezate in Red Raspberries

 

$38,000

 

 

 

Total

 

$7,334,671

 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720‑2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326‑W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington DC 20250‑9410 or call (202) 720‑5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.  

 

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