Five working groups will provide focus to specific topics. They include: International Potato Research Collaborative Framework (IPRCF), Potato Aeroponics Network, Apical Rooted Cuttings Network, International Marketing Group and Global Potato Sustainability.
In 2026, the board allocated $321,035 in funding for 12 projects that focus on topics such as bloom consistency, disease and pest prevention, and apple storage.
Led by the American Farm Bureau Federation, specialty crop groups are highlighting market pressures, extreme winter weather and geopolitical uncertainty.
Christopher Gerlach, vice-president, insights and analytics, US Apple, has released the latest statistics for apple holdings in the United States as of February 2026.
Specialty crop growers have until March 13, 2026 to report 2025 acres to the USDA’s Farm Service Agency. Commodity-specific details of $1B of assistance will be known by end of March.
