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Specialty crop growers thankful for marketing assistance

A potato industry leader says a second wave of Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops program payments has been a welcome relief for growers.

Michigan Potato Industry Commission’s Kelly Turner tells Brownfield economic difficulties have been ongoing since the pandemic for several specialty crops.

“A lot of farmers, specialty crops along with the Title I Crops, really have seen diminished returns, if not kind of bleeding into the red, trying to cover these costs,” she says.

She points to high input costs, labor, and extreme market volatility as major financial burdens impacting farmers.

Turner says it’s one of the largest investments in special crops ever.

“We are still the country that has the most options when we go to the grocery store, we have the best prices, people can feel comfortable and know that the food supply is safe,” she says.

Program funding for 2025 increased to $2.65 billion following stakeholder feedback and program demand at the beginning of the year.