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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 |
|
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|
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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