Program Resources

COVID-19 Information for Businesses

CARES Act

The CARES Act included $34.9 billion in funding related to Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies. The administration and distribution of these funds is still being finalized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Commissioner Fried and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) staff are in close contact with the USDA, urging swift action to ensure that Florida’s agriculture industry has the support, flexibility and security necessary during these unprecedented times.

See a list of specific funding provisions in the CARES Act[ ].

The previous response package, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), also authorized emergency paid sick leave and an expansion of the Family and Medical Leave Act that went into effect April 1, 2020. Learn more about FFCRA.

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program

The CARES Act also created the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program, which provides unemployment compensation benefits for employees traditionally not eligible for these programs including self-employed, independent contractors, and those with limited work history.

For more information for both employers and employees on these expanded benefits and policy changes, visit DOL.gov/coronavirus.

Unemployment Insurance (UI) Provisions in the CARES Act

The CARES Act allows individuals to receive unemployment benefits if unable to work or facing reduced hours due to COVID-19. This includes those directly impacted by the coronavirus, if you have symptoms, are quarantined, or caring for someone who has been infected.

View a summary of CARES Act Unemployment Insurance Provisions[ ].

Contact the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity to apply.

Economic Assistance Programs from the U.S. Small Business Administration

Paycheck Protection Program

On Friday, April 3, 2020, The United States Small Business Administration (SBA) opened applications for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

All small businesses, including agricultural producers, are eligible to participate in the program and should reach out to their bankers and/or agricultural lenders to apply immediately. While SBA continues to confirm some administrative details, loans will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis and producers can begin the application now.

The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities. There is no fee to apply for a Paycheck Protection Program Loan.

For small businesses to apply, they will work directly with their participating lender. Find eligible lenders.

Who Can Apply?

This program is for any small business with less than 500 employees (including sole proprietorships, independent contractors and self-employed persons), private non-profit organization or 501(c)(19) veterans organizations affected by coronavirus/COVID-19.
Businesses in certain industries may have more than 500 employees if they meet the SBA’s size standards for those industries.
Small businesses in the hospitality and food industry with more than one location could also be eligible if their individual locations employ less than 500 workers.

Paycheck Protection Program FAQ

Select a question below to expand the answer.

Are agricultural producers, farmers, and ranchers eligible for the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program?

Are agricultural, and other forms of cooperatives eligible for the Paycheck Protection Program?

Do H-2A or H-2B workers on my payroll count towards my eligibility and total possible loan amount?

How do sole proprietor farmers provide accurate documentation regarding payroll, when they may not take a traditional salary?

Visit the SBA's website to learn more about the Paycheck Protection Program.

Helpful Links

SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)

Farmers, ranchers and nursery operations are not currently eligible for EIDL. Small aquaculture operations, small agriculture cooperatives, and agriculture-dependent entities whose primary business is not farming or ranching, such as restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores, farmers markets, packinghouses and distributors, are eligible for EIDL if size standards are met.

Learn more about EIDL.

SBA 7(a) Program Loans

Agriculture businesses are also eligible to apply for an SBA 7(a) Program Loan.

New Flexibilities on Crop Insurance Due to COVID-19

The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) recently announced new flexibilities for crop insurance. See details and learn how to utilize the changes.

Illegal Dumping of Foreign Agricultural Commodities

Florida farmers are facing hardships during these challenging times, not only due to market disruptions from COVID-19, but also the continued illegal dumping of Mexican produce into the U.S.

Commissioner Fried is engaged on this issue. She has called on Congress to take action, and with members of Florida’s Congressional delegation and other Congressional leaders, she called for support of the Domestic Produce Production Act , and continues to stand with agricultural coalitions to take action.

Recently, Commissioner Fried has requested Section 32 Federal Purchasing of Florida commodities from Congressional leadership and USDA Secretary Perdue.

FDACS is working closely with the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association and our Division of Marketing to track this issue. This is an ongoing process and something we will be continuously monitoring.

We will continue working with our federal and state partners to help alleviate this pressure.

How You Can Help

You can submit a comment to the U.S. Trade Representative on how trade policies are affecting Florida-grown seasonal products.

Feeding Florida Program

The Feeding Florida Program purchases cosmetically blemished produce from local agricultural producers through the Farmers Feeding Florida Program, which is funded by the Legislature through the FDACS Food Recovery Program. Food recovered through this program is provided to households in need through Feeding Florida’s member food banks.

For more information on Farmers Feeding Florida, contact Sherri Atwell, Director of Produce Recovery, at 1-855-352-3663 ext. 1 or Sherri@FeedingFlorida.org.

You can also reach out to the FDACS Food Recovery Specialist, Melanie Mason at (850) 617-7165 or Melanie.Mason@FDACS.gov.

FDACS's Division of Food, Nutrition, and Wellness also facilitates purchase of local produce for schools through Farm to School Program. Through Farm to School, schools contract directly with local producers to purchase products using own school food service accounts. Agricultural producers interested in connecting with schools to sell produce can contact Beth Spratt at (850) 617-7419 or Beth.Spratt@FDACS.gov.

H-2A Visa Information

Commissioner Fried had requested that Congressional leadership work to ensure continued processing of H-2A visas. The U.S. State Department announced an expanded scope of H-2A visa processing, effective March 26, 2020. Learn more about H-2A visa processing, classification and eligibility.

Farm Service Agency Servicing

USDA’s Farm Service Agency is relaxing the loan-making process and adding flexibilities for servicing direct and guaranteed loans to provide credit to producers in need. More information is available at Farmers.gov/coronavirus.

Small Business Emergency Bridge Loans

Small agricultural business owners in Florida have a new resource available to help them through the COVID-19 pandemic. The Florida Emergency Bridge Loan Program for Small Businesses was activated by Governor DeSantis on March 16, 2020, and business owners can apply starting on March 17, 2020. All small businesses, including agriculture producers, that have between two and 100 employees, were established prior to March 9, 2020, and can demonstrate an economic impact from COVID-19 are able to apply. Qualified applicants will be eligible to receive a short-term, interest-free loan of up to $50,000 for one year. Up to $50 million will be made available for the loan program. Businesses interested in the Emergency Bridge Loan Program can get more information and download an application online at FloridaDisasterLoan.org. Applications will be accepted from qualified Florida small businesses through May 8, 2020.

For questions regarding the Emergency Bridge Loan Program, contact the Florida Small Business Development Center Network at (866) 737-7232 or email Disaster@FloridaSBDC.org. The phone line will be answered during regular business hours; all voice mails and emails will be responded to within 24 hours.

COVID-19 Business Damage Assessment Survey

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity has also released a survey for business damage assessment related to COVID-19. The survey will evaluate businesses affected and the impacts the virus has had on the local economy to begin action to implement appropriate relief programs. The survey is NOT an application for resources; however, answering the questions can aid in applying for the Emergency Bridge Loan, as well as to access the federal Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan, made available for COVID-19 through the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act. The survey can be taken online.

Food Safety Guidelines for Retailers/Food Establishments

The FDACS Division of Food Safety inspects and regulates more than 40,000 grocery stores, convenience stores, markets and food manufacturing facilities in Florida. As of March 3, 2020, the Division of Food Safety has been in communication with the majority of these food establishments, as well as the Florida Retail Federation and the Florida Petroleum Marketers Association, to share food safety practices that protect public health.

FDACS is reminding these businesses of the following requirements (Rule 5K-4.002, Florida Administrative Code and FDA Food Code) to ensure food safety and reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses, such as COVID-19:

Food preparers must keep hands and arms clean and follow cleaning procedures including washing at least 20 seconds with hand cleaner and rinsing under warm running water.
When to wash includes: after touching body parts; after using the restroom; after caring for animals; after coughing, sneezing or using tissue; after using tobacco; after eating or drinking; after handling soiled equipment during food preparation; after handling raw food and working with ready to eat food; before donning gloves; and after any other activity that contaminates hands. (Chapter 2-301)
There is required to be at least one hand washing sink (Chapter 5-203), that handwashing sink must be convenient to employees and or immediately adjacent to toilet rooms (Chapter 5-204), and handwashing supplies such as hand soap and cleanser and drying devices such as towels or heated air devices for handwashing sinks are required to be present (Chapter 6-301).

Businesses with questions about food safety practices can call the Division of Food Safety at (850) 245-5520 or email FoodSafety@FDACS.gov. Questions about other human health-related impacts of COVID-19 should be referred to the Florida Department of Health’s COVID-19 center at 1-866-779-6121 or COVID-19@flhealth.gov.