USDA is set to spend more than $2 billion on strengthening the specialty crop sector. The money will help producers who dealt with natural disasters this year.
Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the creation of the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops initiative, and they are also creating the Commodity Storage Assistance Program, which will give $140 million to help producers access places like packing houses and elevators.
USDA says the program is nationwide, but they expect most applications to come from the Southeast.
