More than 70 organizations representing America’s specialty crop growers recently signed on to a letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, expressing deep appreciation to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and President Donald J. Trump for swiftly advancing a second round of Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) payments.

The additional $1.3 billion in funding, announced on April 30, 2025, will serve as a vital lifeline for family farms across all 50 states.

The letter was co-signed by executives from Western Growers, the International Fresh Produce Association, the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association and the National Potato Council.

In the letter, the groups underscored the urgency facing specialty crop producers and highlighted the need for continued collaboration to resolve lingering issues with first-round payments. They also called for greater transparency into the MASC program’s distribution data to help ensure eligible growers receive the support they need.

You can read the full letter here.

Western Growers has been persistent in its advocacy and communication with USDA leadership on MASC, and we will continue to monitor the rollout of funds closely and keep members informed of any new developments. For any questions, please contact Dennis Nuxoll at [email protected].