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Specialty crops are defined in law as “fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.” Specialty crops are plants that are intensively cultivated. There are many plants that are specialty crops when cultivated, but are also collected from wild populations. Wild plants are not considered specialty crops even though they may be used for the same purpose as cultivated plants. The tables below list plants commonly considered fruits and tree nuts, vegetables, culinary herbs and spices, medicinal plants, and nursery, floriculture, and horticulture crops. Ineligible commodities are also listed.
This list is not intended to be all inclusive, but rather intended to give examples of the most common specialty crops. It will be updated as USDA gets new questions.
List of Plants Commonly Considered Fruits and Tree Nuts
Almond
| Grape (including raisin)
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Apple
| Guava
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Apricot
| Kiwi
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Avocado
| Litchi
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Banana
| Macadamia
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Blackberry
| Mango
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Blueberry
| Nectarine
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Breadfruit
| Olive
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Cacao
| Papaya
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Cashew
| Passion fruit
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Citrus
| Peach
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Cherimoya
| Pear
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Cherry
| Pecan
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Chestnut (for nuts)
| Persimmon
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Coconut
| Pineapple
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Coffee
| Pistachio
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Cranberry
| Plum (including prune)
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Currant
| Pomegranate
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Date
| Quince
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Feijou
| Raspberry
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Fig
| Strawberry
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Filbert (hazelnut)
| Suriname cherry
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Gooseberry
| Walnut
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List of Plants Commonly Considered Vegetables
Artichoke
| Mustard and other greens
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Asparagus
| Okra
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Bean
Snap or green
Lima
Dry, edible
| Pea
Garden, English or edible pod
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Beet, table
| onion
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Broccoli (including broccoli raab)
| Opuntia
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Brussels sprouts
| Parsley
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Cabbage (including Chinese)
| Parsnip
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Carrot
| Pepper
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Cauliflower
| Potato
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Celeriac
| Pumpkin
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Celery
| Radish (all types)
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Chive
| Rhubarb
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Collards (including kale)
| Rutabaga
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Cucumber
| Salsify
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Edamame
| Spinach
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Eggplant
| Squash (summer and winter)
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Endive
| Sweet corn
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Garlic
| Sweet potato
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Horseradish
| Swiss chard
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Kohlrabi
| Taro
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Leek
| Tomato (including tomatillo)
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Lettuce
| Turnip
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Melon (all types)
| Watermelon
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Mushroom (cultivated)
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List of Plants Commonly Considered Culinary Herbs and Spices
Ajwain
| Clary
| Malabathrum
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Allspice
| Cloves
| Marjoram
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Angelica
| Comfrey
| Mint (all types)
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Anise
| Common rue
| Nutmeg
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Annatto
| Coriander
| Oregano
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Artemisia (all types)
| Cress
| Orris root
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Asafetida
| Cumin
| Paprika
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Basil (all types)
| Curry
| Parsley
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Bay (cultivated)
| Dill
| Pepper
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Bladder wrack
| Fennel
| Rocket (arugula)
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Bolivian coriander
| Fenugreek
| Rosemary
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Borage
| Filé (gumbo, cultivated)
| Rue
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Calendula
| Fingerroot
| Saffron
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Chamomile
| French sorrel
| Sage (all types)
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Candle nut
| Galangal
| Savory (all types)
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Caper
| Ginger
| Tarragon
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Caraway
| Hops
| Thyme
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Cardamom
| Horehound
| Turmeric
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Cassia
| Hyssop
| Vanilla
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Catnip
| Lavender
| Wasabi
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Chervil
| Lemon balm
| Water cress
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Chicory
| Lemon thyme
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Cicely
| Lovage
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Cilantro
| Mace
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Cinnamon
| Mahlab
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List of Plants Commonly Considered Medicinal Herbs
Artemissia
| Liquorice
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Arum
| Marshmallow
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Astragalus
| Mullein
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Boldo
| Passion flower
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Cananga
| Patchouli
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Comfrey
| Pennyroyal
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Coneflower
| Pokeweed
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Ephedra
| St. John’s wort
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Fenugreek
| Senna
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Feverfew
| Skullcap
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Foxglove
| Sonchus
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Ginko biloba
| Sorrel
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Ginseng
| Stevia
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Goat’s rue
| Tansy
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Goldenseal
| Urtica
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Gypsywort
| Witch hazel
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Horehound
| Wood betony
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Horsetail
| Wormwood
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Lavender
| Yarrow
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Yerba buena
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List of Commonly Considered Nursery, Floriculture, and Horticulture Crops
Note: Under the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP), turfgrass sod is not eligible. Under the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program – Farm Bill (SCBGP-FB), horticulture was added to the definition making turfgrass sod and seed eligible.
Christmas Trees
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Cut Flowers
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Honey
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Hops
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Maple Syrup
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Tea Leaves
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List of Ineligible Commodities
Alfalfa
| Peanuts
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Barley
| Primrose
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Borage
| Quinoa
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Buckwheat
| Rapeseed oil
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Canola
| Range grasses
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Canola Oil
| Rice
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Clover
| Rye
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Cotton
| Safflower meal
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Cottonseed oil
| Safflower oil
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Dairy products
| Shellfish (marine or freshwater)
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Eggs
| Sorghum
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Field corn
| Soybean oil
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Fish (marine or freshwater)
| Soybeans
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Flax
| Sugar beets
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Flaxseed
| Sugarcane
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Hay
| Sunflower oil
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Livestock products
| Tobacco
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Millet
| Tofu
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Mustard seed oil
| Wheat
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Oats
| Wild Rice
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Peanut oil
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