David Rouzer, Representative of North Carolina, emphasized the importance of federal specialty crop assistance for the state’s growers and expressed gratitude to Secretary Brooke Rollins for prioritizing this support. His remarks were made on X.
“Great news for NC’s specialty crop growers— Sec. Brooke Rollins and US Dept. of Agriculture have released $1.3 billion in Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crop (MASC) funds,” said David Cheston Rouzer, U.S. Representative from North Carolina. “This support is critical for our growers navigating ongoing economic challenges. During a recent House Ag Committee Hearing, I brought up the importance of the MASC program to North Carolina as one of the nation’s most diverse agricultural states and personally asked the Secretary for an update on its rollout. Thank you, Secretary Rollins for helping NC growers!”
The Market Access and Specialty Crop (MASC) program, launched in 2024, is a federal initiative aimed at supporting specialty crop growers in states like North Carolina. The state is a national leader in sweet potatoes, berries, and tobacco. According to Southeast Farm Press, the program seeks to enhance market access, offset disaster losses, and strengthen rural economies. This makes it particularly significant for North Carolina’s diverse agriculture sector.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), North Carolina’s specialty crop producers received over $67 million in federal support through the MASC program and related disaster aid in 2024. This places the state fourth in total allocations behind California, Florida, and Washington for fruit, vegetable, and nursery crop assistance.
USDA and state economic reports indicate that North Carolina’s specialty crop growers face challenges from rising input costs, labor shortages, and weather risks—particularly hurricanes—while also adapting to changing consumer markets. These challenges mirror but sometimes exceed those faced by growers in California and Florida.
Rouzer has served as a Republican representative for North Carolina’s 7th Congressional District since 2015. He has a strong background in agricultural policy and sits on the House Agriculture Committee. As noted by Ballotpedia, he is known for advocating farm bill support and disaster relief for the state’s specialty crop sector.
