Specialty Crops (Fruits & Vegetables) and the Farm Bill 2.0

## How the Farm Bill 2.0 affects specialty crops (fruits & vegetables) producers Specialty crops have historically been underfunded relative to commodity crops. Title X specifically addresses this with major research and automation investments. ## At a glance | Metric | Value | |---|---| | U.S. value | $70B annually | | Primary states | California, Florida, Washington, Michigan, Oregon, New York, Texas | | Primary programs | SCBGP, TASC, MAP, Specialty Crop Research, Crop Insurance | ## Specific changes affecting specialty crops (fruits & vegetables)

1. $30M for specialty crop research
2. $20M for specialty crop automation research
3. Specialty Crop Block Grants reauthorized
4. TASC (export market access) doubled to $18M annually
5. Specialty Crop Emergency Assistance framework established
6. MAP doubled: specialty crop export promotion

## What to watch Automation funding could accelerate harvest mechanization for high-labor crops (lettuce, strawberries, table grapes). ## Programs that matter for specialty crops (fruits & vegetables) The Farm Bill 2.0 programs most directly relevant to specialty crops (fruits & vegetables) producers:

• SCBGP
• TASC
• MAP
• Specialty Crop Research
• Crop Insurance

## How to think about the bill if you produce specialty crops (fruits & vegetables) The most important framing for any commodity-specific analysis: **read the 2026 farm bill alongside H.R. 1**, the 2025 budget reconciliation law. H.R. 1 locked in most price support, ARC/PLC, and crop insurance policy through 2031. The 2026 farm bill adds incremental changes on top. For most specialty crops (fruits & vegetables) operations, the highest-leverage decisions are: - Which conservation programs to enroll in (Title II reshuffling means EQIP funding is tighter, but ACEP and FCEP are more accessible) - Whether your operation qualifies for new opportunities like REAP (ag co-ops with fewer than 2,500 employees), veteran farmer crop insurance subsidy boost, or specialty crop emergency framework - Trade dynamics, which the farm bill influences but does not fully control ## Related - [Full Farm Bill 2.0 Summary](/full-bill-summary/) - [What's New vs the 2018 Farm Bill](/whats-new-vs-2018/) - [Browse all commodities](/commodities/) - [Browse states](/states/)