Assisting Specialty Crop Exports (ASCE)

The Assisting Specialty Crop Exports (ASCE) initiative is an innovative partnership between USDA and the specialty crops sector to break down non-tariff trade barriers that hinder U.S. exports of fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, horticultural crops, and other products. 

The initiative aims to open new international markets and solidify existing ones, ensuring that U.S. exports compete on fair and level playing field and helping producers and industry better understand the regulations and requirements that affect their ability to sell their products to foreign customers. 

ASCE is different from USDA’s traditional export market development programs in that, rather than beginning with a call for grant proposals, the projects will begin with a dialogue between the Foreign  Agricultural Service and industry stakeholders to identify specific export challenges or concerns that can be addressed via targeted ASCE projects.

The projects will target such cross-cutting issues as:  

• Addressing the implications of new and forthcoming regulations related to plastics and packaging for fresh produce and other specialty crop products;
• Helping U.S. exporters identify potential export markets and better understand the mechanics of exporting;
• Assisting U.S. exporters with navigating foreign standards, certifications, and import requirements, including maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides used on specialty crops; and
• Helping importing countries adopt international standards and harmonize import regulations in order to facilitate trade.

ASCE projects are intended to benefit an entire industry or product category rather than a specific company. They are not intended to directly export products, identify specific foreign buyers, support market promotion activities, or deal with tariffs and related trade policy issues. 

Products

ASCE supports products that fall under the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service definition of a specialty crop. This includes fresh fruits and vegetables, leafy greens, pulses, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, and culinary herbs and spices, in addition to processed products such as wine that contain more than 50 percent of the specialty crop by weight (exclusive of added water).

Partners

Trade organizations, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, businesses, educational institutions, and state and local government entities are among those who can apply to partner with FAS on ASCE projects. Throughout the implementation period, industry groups will be important collaborators in ensuring the needs of U.S. producers and others stakeholders are being addressed. Organizations selected to implement ASCE projects are expected to engage with FAS personnel and with the agricultural producers, trade groups, and/or state departments of agriculture representing the products affected. 

Process

FAS will design ASCE projects based on input from a diverse range of specialty crop stakeholders around the United States, and will seek partners to implement the projects via notices of funding opportunity (NOFOs) on grants.gov and on the FAS website. Each notice will specify the details of the project, the types of organizations eligible to apply, the available funding amount, and the purposes for which funding can be used. ASCE projects may be funded through a variety of mechanisms, including contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements.

Timeline

FAS announced the first ASCE project opportunities in Spring 2024 and will roll out additional opportunities in tranches over the next five years, or until funding is exhausted. Each project will have a specific implementation timeline outlined in the NOFO, generally between one and three years. 

Global Reach

ASCE funding is available for use in any foreign market to address non-tariff trade barriers facing U.S. specialty crop exports, with the exception of those countries subject to sanctions or U.S. Department of Treasury OFAC controls.

ASCE Topic Areas Under Development

Topics under development that address needs which were raised to USDA by various specialty crop stakeholders and groups during ASCE consultations.

• Topic Areas Under Development

Funding Opportunities

Applicants should confirm that their organization is registered at SAM.gov, is active in SAM, and that your organization and two users are registered in ezFedGrants. Applications should be submitted through the ezFedGrants system at https://grants.fms.usda.gov/. The ezFedGrants system requires a separate enrollment process with USDA which must be done in advance of submitting an application. Applicants who require assistance with any USDA-managed computer system should reach out to the program officer listed in the NOFOs in Section G, Federal Awarding Agency Contact, at least 5 business days in advance of the application submission deadline. Applicants are advised to make their application submissions 1-2 days before the deadline in case of computer problems.