USDA Expands Coverage Options for New England Apple Growers

RALEIGH, N.C., Aug. 30, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expanding crop insurance options for apple growers in New England, which includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, beginning with the 2025 crop year. As a result of feedback from multiple listening sessions, New England apple growers will now be able to access improved, and more flexible, price protection for their apples.

“Price elections were a consistent topic of discussion at listening sessions and growers felt that the Risk Management Agency’s (RMA) historical price election for fresh apples was not reflective of markets and did not provide enough protection in the event of a severe natural disaster, like the freeze in May of 2023,” said Alexander Sereno, Director of RMA’s Regional Office that covers New England. “As a result of this collaborative effort, the Risk Management Agency was able to identify improved sources of pricing data which will allow growers to access expanded coverage options that offer more flexible price protection for their apples.”

The following price election changes will be made beginning with the 2025 crop year for apples insured in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont:

• For apple acreage insured as the Fresh 111 type, apple growers may elect either the Established Price or the Minimum Value Price as their price election.
• The Established Price is based on a regional National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) survey and is significantly higher than previous crop years’ prices to reflect the value of fresh apples in the New England market.
• The Minimum Value Price is based on the NASS data used historically. 

RMA will continue to engage with New England apple growers to identify additional ways to improve the Apple crop insurance program to meet their risk management needs.

In crop year 2024, producers insured $14.9 million in covered liabilities on 4,300 acres of apples in New England.

More Information 

Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online at the RMA Agent Locator. Producers can learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at rma.usda.gov or by contacting their RMA Regional Office. 

RMA secures the future of agriculture by providing world class risk management tools to rural America through Federal crop insurance and risk management education programs. RMA provides policies for more than 130 crops and is constantly working to adjust and create new policies based on producer needs and feedback.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit usda.gov.  

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