California Walnut Commission celebrates specialty crop funding package

California walnut growers will be eligible for $225 per acre in federal assistance under the newly announced Assistance for Specialty Crops Farmers (ASCF) program, part of a $1.625 billion United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) initiative designed to help specialty crop producers address rising production costs and export market disruptions.

The funding, announced Friday by the USDA, will be available to eligible growers based on their 2025 crop acreage reports. The entity said the efforts target sectors facing elevated input costs and trade-related challenges that have affected export opportunities.

The California Walnut Commission (CWC) welcomed the announcement, noting that the assistance comes as growers continue managing the 2025 crop following bloom and nut set.

“Walnut growers are in full swing nurturing this year’s crop, which just finished the bloom and nut set start of the crop year”, said Bill Carriere, vice chairman of the CWC. “This additional financial support will be utilized to lower input costs and improve our competitiveness abroad.”

A boost for California walnut exporters

According to the CWC, the funding will help walnut producers offset production expenses and ongoing market disruptions linked to tariffs in key export destinations.

The commission said many of the state's walnut operations are multi-generational family farms that continue to face challenges from higher costs and uncertainty in international markets.

The CWC also thanked US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, USDA and Farm Service Agency staff for implementing the program and supporting specialty crop producers.

*All photos are referential.

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