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Specialty Crops
Overview
Specialty crops are gaining attention across the agricultural spectrum with the increased number of provisions addressing specialty crop issues in the Food Conservation and Energy Act (2008 Farm Bill). The statutory definition of the term is wide-ranging, including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and vegetables, horticulture, and nursery crops. In practice, however, the term "specialty crops" is generally used to describe all crops except those commodities that receive direct income support under Title I of the 2008 Farm Bill.
Read the full overview
Note: Recently added resources are posted at the top of the applicable sections.
Major Statutes
Biotechnology
Plant Protection Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 7701-7772
Plant Variety Protection Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 2321-2583
Plant Patent Act, 35 U.S.C. §§ 161-164
Checkoff Programs
Floral Research and Consumer Information Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 4301-4319
Fresh Cut Flowers and Fresh Cut Greens Promotion and Information Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 6801-6814
Hass Avocado Promotion, Research, and Information Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 7801-7813
Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 4601-4613
Lime Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 6201-6212
Mushroom Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 6101-6112
National Kiwifruit Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 7461-7473
Pecan Promotion and Research Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 6001-6013
Popcorn Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 7481-7491
Potato Research and Consumer Information Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 2611-2627
Watermelon Research and Promotion Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 4901-4916
County of Origin Labeling (COOL)
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, 7 U.S.C. §§ 1621-1638d
COOL Provisions, 7 U.S.C. §§ 1638-1638d
COOL Provision from the 2008 Farm Bill
Farm Bills
Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008
Fruit and Vegetable Program, Sec. 4304
Planting Flexibility Restrictions and Pilot Programs, 7 U.S.C. § 8717
Specialty Crop Research Initiative, 7 U.S.C. § 7632
Specialty Crops Market News Allocation, 7 U.S.C. § 1622(b)
Food Safety Education Initiatives, 7 U.S.C. § 7655(a)
Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 7 U.S.C. § 3171
Program Payment Planting Restrictions, 7 U.S.C. § 7916
Production Flexibility Contracts Planting Restrictions, 7 U.S.C. § 7218
Purchase of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables for Distribution, 7 U.S.C. § 612c-4
Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC), 7 U.S.C. § 5680
Marketing, Research, and Promotion Programs
Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, 7 U.S.C. §§ 601-614, 671-674
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, 7 U.S.C. § 1621 et seq.
Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996, 7 U.S.C. §§ 7411-7425
Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 1976, 7 U.S.C. §§ 3001 - 3007
Farmers' Market Promotion Program, 7 U.S.C. § 3005
Seniors Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, 7 U.S.C. § 3007
Specialty Crops Competitive Act of 2004, 7 U.S.C § 1621 note
Amended By the 2008 Farm Bill
Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 499a-499t
Produce Agency Act, 7 §§ U.S.C. 491-497
Regulations
Biotechnology
Plant Variety and Protection Regulations, 7 C.F.R. §§ 97.1-97.900
Genetically Engineered Plant Pest Regulations, 7 C.F.R. §§ 340.0-340.9
Plant Incorporated Protectant Regulations, 40 C.F.R. §§ 174.1-174.485
Checkoff Programs
Fruits Vegetables Nuts, 7 C.F.R. Parts 900-999
Fruits Imports Regulations, 7 C.F.R. Part 944
Vegetables Import Regulations, 7 C.F.R. Part 980
Specialty Crops Import Regulations, 7 C.F.R. Part 999
Miscellaneous Commodities (Includes Several Specialty Crops), 7 C.F.R. Parts 1200-1291
Country of Origin Labeling
Food Safety Inspection Service Imported Products Labeling Regulations,9 C.F.R. §§ 327.14-327.15
United States Bureau of Customs and Border Protection Country of Origin Marking Regulations,
19 C.F.R. §§ 134.0-134.55
Marketing Orders
Marketing Agreements and Orders: Fruits, Vegetables, Nuts, 7 C.F.R. Parts 900-999
Marketing Agreements and Orders: Miscellaneous Commodities (Includes Several Specialty Crops),
7 C.F.R. Parts 1200-1291
Marketing Research and Promotion
Fresh Fruits, Vegetables and Other Products (Inspection, Certification, and Standards), 7 C.F.R. Part 51
Processed Fruits and Vegetables, Processed Products Thereof, and Certain Other Processed Food
Products, 7 C.F.R. Part 52
Specialty Crops Block Grant Program, 7 C.F.R. Part 1290
Specialty Crops Block Grant Program-Farm Bill, 7 C.F.R. Part 1291
Specialty Crops Research Initiative, 7 C.F.R. Part 3430
Market Development Programs
Rules of Practice for Disciplinary Proceedings, 7 C.F.R. §§ 1.130-1.151
Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act Regulations (PACA), 7 C.F.R. §§ 46.1-46.49
Rules of Practice for Reparation Proceedings, 7 C.F.R. §§ 47.1-47.49
Enforcement of the Produce Agency Act, 7 C.F.R. Part 48
Programs to Help Develop Foreign Markets for Agricultural Commodities, 7 C.F.R. Part 1484
Cooperative Agreements for the Development of Foreign Markets for Agricultural Commodities,
7 C.F.R. Part 1485
Emerging Markets Programs, 7 C.F.R. Part 1486
Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) Regulations, 7 C.F.R. Part 1487
Case Law
Case Law Index for Biotechnology
Case Law Index for Checkoff Programs
Case Law Index for Country of Origin Labeling (COOL)
Case Law Index for Local Food Systems
Case Law Index for Marketing Orders
Case Law Index for Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA)
Administrative Law Decisions
FDA Dockets Management
EPA Environmental Appeals Board
EPA Office of Administrative Law Judges
USDA Judicial Officer's Decisions (National AgLaw Center)
USDA National Appeals Division
USDA Office of the Administrative Law Judges
USDA Office of the Judicial Officer
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Rulings
U.S. International Trade Commission Investigations
Center Publications
Legal and Business Guide for Specialty Crop Producers (National AgLaw Center & U. AR Division of Agriculture)
Arkansas Direct Farm Business Guide (M. Tarr, A. Endres, J. Endres & N. Johnson, U. IL @ Urbana)
General Legal Issues for Community Farmers Market Managers to Consider (Crocker)
The Farmer's Legal Guide to Producer Marketing Associations (O'Brien, Hamilton & Luedeman)
Farmers' Markets: Rules, Regulations, and Opportunities (Hamilton)
PACA Roundup: A Review of Recent Cases (Pittman)
PACA: The Statutory Trust and Its Application for Restaurants (Pittman)
Congressional Research Service Reports
CRS Subject(s):
Biotechnology
Commodities
Farm Bills/Economic Stimulus
Farm Commodity Programs
International Agriculture
Agricultural Law Bibliography
Introduction | Keyword Search | Browse Categories
Legal publications on Specialty Crops:
Cooperatives
Farm Labor
Food and Drug Law
Fruits and Vegetables -- Perishable Agricultural Commodities
Marketing Boards, Marketing Orders, Marketing Promotion, Marketing Quotas
Organizational Forms for Agriculture (Business Law and Development)
Sustainable and Organic Farming
Reference Resources
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)
Country-of-Origin Labeling
Domestic Origin Verification Program
Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crop Programs
Fruit, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Purchasing Program
Fruit and Vegetable Advisory Committee
Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program
Grading and Certification Programs
Import Requirements
Marketing Orders and Generic Promotion Programs
Market News
PACA
Plant Variety Protection Office
Qualified Through Verification Program
Rulemaking Notices
Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP)
Specialty Crop Block Grant Program & Specialty Crop Block Grant Program-Farm Bill
(SCBGP & SCBGP-FB)
Wholesale and Farmer's Markets
Animal Plant Health and Inspection Service (APHIS)
Plant Health
Import and Export
Plant Export Program
Plant Import
Emerging Challenges for Biotech Specialty Crops (Workshop Report, 2007)
Fruit and Vegetable Import Manual (2004)
Memorandum of Agreement between the Department of Homeland Security and the USDA
Agricultural Research Service (ARS)
Crop Production and Protection
Engineering Solutions for Specialty Crops Challenges (CSREES, ARS, NASA, NSF Workshop)
Field Trials to Develop Data on Crop Protection Chemicals for Vegetable and Specialty Crops
Genetic Preservation of Specialty Crops
Methyl Bromide Alternatives Project
Specialty Crops Research Program
Specialty Crops Research Projects
Management of Temperate Adapted Fruit, Nut, and Specialty Crop Genetic Resources and
Associated Information
Minor Use Pesticide Testing on Specialty Crops (IR-4)
Sustainable Cropping Systems for Irrigated Specialty Crops and Bio-fuels
Preserving the Genetic Variety of Valuable Specialty Crops (McGinnis, 2007)
Specialty Crops Vulnerability to Pests: IR-4 (Comis, 2007)
Specialty Crops Move Into the Spotlight (Schneider, 2007)
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Fruits and Veggies Matter
Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Data and Statistics
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES)
Biotechnology
Small Market Biotech Crops Initiative
Specialty Crops Regulatory Initiative
Horticulture
IR-4 Specialty Crop Pest Management
Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics
CSREES National Research Initiative, Rosaceae Plant Genome Program Accomplishments
Specialty Crops Genomics, Genetics and Breeding Workshop
Precision Farming
Plants and Plant Products
Small Farm Resource Guide (2006)
Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI)
Economic Research Service (ERS)
Briefing Room: Dry Beans
Briefing Room: Fruit and Tree Nuts
Briefing Room: Potatoes
Briefing Room: Tomatoes
Briefing Room: Vegetables and Melons
2008 Farm Bill Side-by-Sides: Title X: Horticulture and Agriculture
Specialty Crop Provisions
Specialty Crop Competitiveness
Pest and Disease Management
Census of Agriculture
Marketing Orders Research and/or Promotion Programs
Food Safety Education Initiative
Market News Activities Regarding Specialty Crops
Farmers' Market Promotion Program
Market Loss Assistance for Asparagus Producers
Grants to Improve Transporting Specialty Crops
Specialty-Crop Provisions in Other Titles
Publications:
Floriculture and Nursery Crops
Fruit and Nut Trees
Vegetable and Melon Outlook
Price Trends are Similar for Fruits, Vegetables, and Snack Foods (Kuchler, 2008)
Increased U.S. Imports of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables (Huang, 2007)
China's Rising Fruit and Vegetable Exports Challenge U.S. Industries (Huang, 2006)
Eliminating Fruit and Vegetable Planting Restrictions: How Would Markets be Affected?
(Johnson 2006)
Fruit and Vegetable Backgrounder (Lucier, 2006)
Prospects for India's Emerging Apple Market (Deodhar, 2006)
For an expanded list of ERS Recommended Readings, please click here.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
Produce Safety: Guidance, Compliance & Regulatory Information
Guidance Documents: Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
(1998)
Guidance Documents: Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards of Fresh-cut Fruits and Vegetables
(2008)
Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)
Commodities and Products
Fruit and Vegetable Analysis
Tree Nuts Analysis
Import Programs
Export Programs
Emerging Markets Program
Foreign Market Development Program
Market Access Program
Quality Samples Program
Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) Program
TASC Fact Sheet
Current World, Production, Market, and Trade
U.S. Horticultural
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)
Food Distribution Programs and Services
Department of Defense Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (DoD Fresh)
Food Distribution Program Eligibility
Availability of Fresh Produce in Nutrition Assistance Programs (2002)
Increasing Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Through the USDA Nutrition Assistance Programs
(2008)
Food Safety.gov
Fresh Produce Safety
Commodity Specific Guidelines
Imported Foods
Fruit and Vegetable Juices
Sprouts
National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)
Crops and Plants
Charts and Maps: Specialty Crops
Research Reports
National Agricultural Library (NAL)
Growing Herbs Selective Information Sources: 1996-2005 (Mazur, 2005)
List of Alternative Crops and Enterprises for Small Farm Diversification (Gold, 2008)
Food Irradiation Resource List
Sanitation and Quality Standards
Risk Management Agency (RMA)
Bulletins and Handbooks
Crop Policies
Crop Policies and Pilots
RMA Authorizing Acts and Statutes
Report on Specialty Crop Insurance (2004)
U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) (Rural Development Program)
Specialty Crops Comment Summary and Background
Congressional Resources
Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Home Page
House Committee on Agriculture Home Page
Farm Bill (U.S. House Committee on Agriculture)
Improvements Needed in FDA Oversight of Fresh Produce (GAO-081047, 2008)
Fruits and Vegetables: Enhanced Federal Efforts to Increase Consumption Could Yield Health Benefits
for Americans (GAO-02-657, 2002)
Other Federal Resources
National Clean Plant Network
International Resources
Australia Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry: Horticulture Policy
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - Horticulture
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - Pulses and Specialty Crops
European Union
Fruits and Vegetables
Legislation
Market and Policy Reports
Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Reform: Fruits and Vegetables
The Horticulture Sector in the European Union (2003)
Global G.A.P.
Additional Resources
National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA)
Specialty Crop Task Force
NASDA Policy Statement on Specialty Crops (2003)
Progress of State Agricultural Block Grants (2004)
Association of Fruit and Vegetable Inspection and Standardization Agencies
California Specialty Crops Council
Florida Specialty Crop Foundation
Haas Avocado Board
International Nut and Dried Fruit Council
Mushroom Council
National Honey Board
National Watermelon Promotion Board
Popcorn Board
Specialty Crops Farm Bill Alliance
Specialty Crops Regulatory Assistance
U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council
United Fresh Produce Association
United States Potato Board
Irradiation News (U. of MN, Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy - CIDRAP)
Irradiation Overview (CIDRAP)
Irradiation Links (CIDRAP)
Colorado State University Specialty Crops Program
Good Agricultural Practices Network for Education and Training (Cornell University)
GAPs at UC Davis
North Carolina Specialty Crops Program
University of California Fruit and Nut Research and Information Center
University of California Small Farm Center
University of Florida Specialty Crop Advanced Technology Development Initiative
MarketReady Fresh Produce Safety (NC State Extension)
Publications
Selling Fruits and Vegetables to Local Retailers and Restaurants: An Overview of Legal Issues (FLAG, 2009)
Establishing Land Use Protections for Farmers' Markets (Public Health Law & Policy, 2009)
Understanding Farmers' Rights to be Paid for Fruit and Vegetable Crops (Farmer's Legal Action Group -
FLAG, 2007)
Federal Law Protects Farmers' Rights to be Paid for Fruit and Vegetable Contracts (FLAG, 2007)
Pesticides for Specialty Crops (Fouche, UC Davis, 2000)
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