1、 https:/crsreports.congress.gov September 23, 20192018 Farm Bill Primer: Specialty Crops and Organic AgricultureThe 2018 farm bill (Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, P.L. 115-334) reauthorized and expanded existing programs and policies administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) su
2、pporting fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and greenhouse and nursery products, among other specialty crops. A range of initiatives support specialty crops, including market promotion, plant pest and disease prevention, and public research. The 2018 farm bill also reauthorized and expanded existing sup
3、port for USDA-certified organic agricultural production. Industry Overview Specialty cropsdefined as “fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and horticulture and nursery crops (including floriculture)” (7 U.S.C. 1621 note)account for roughly one-third of annual U.S. crop sales (farm level).
4、 For 2017, USDA reports that the value of farm level sales of fruits, vegetables, and nursery crops totaled $64.7 billion (Table 1). There are about 240,000 farming operations growing more than 350 types of fruit, vegetable, tree nut, flower, nursery, and other horticultural crops. Production is con
