Additional list of commodities added to Coronavirus Food Assistance Program

The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) provides direct relief to U.S. producers who have suffered a five-percent-or-greater price decline or who had losses due to market supply chain disruptions due to COVID-19, and face additional significant marketing costs.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released an initial list of additional commodities that have been added to the CFAP and announced that they made other adjustments to the program based on comments received from agricultural producers, organizations and review of market data. 

According to press release, producers able to submit applications that include these commodities starting from July 13, 2020. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is accepting applications for CFAP through Aug. 28, 2020.

“When we announced this program earlier this year, we asked for public input and received a good response. After reviewing the comments received and analyzing our USDA Market News data, we are adding new commodities, as well as making updates to the program for existing eligible commodities,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue.

The full list of specialty crops that are eligible for CFAP payments can be found here.

Besides, CARES Act funding is expanding for seven currently eligible commodities (apples, blueberries, garlic, potatoes, raspberries, tangerines and taro) for sales losses as the USDA found that prices for these products fell 5% or more between mid-January and mid-April as a result of the COVID-19.

Other important adjustment is that that peaches and rhubarb no longer qualify for payment under the CARES Act sales loss category.

USDA expects additional eligible commodities to be announced in the coming weeks.

More information about list of commodities added to CFAP can be found in the Federal Register.

Click here to know about applying to the CFAP program.