The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing $2 million in new technology aimed at helping U.S. tree nut handlers manage pests and maintain product quality after harvest. The funding was highlighted as part of a broader effort to strengthen the competitiveness of specialty crop exports.
New Storage Technology for Tree Nuts
The funding comes through USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service and its Assisting Specialty Crop Exports (ACE) Initiative. The project will focus on developing cost-effective low-oxygen storage and packaging systems for tree nuts.
The technology is designed to address two important concerns for handlers: pest control and maintaining product quality during storage. By creating lower-oxygen environments, researchers hope to develop systems that can help control pests without compromising the quality of nuts as they move through the postharvest supply chain.
The project will also incorporate phytosanitary traceability, adding another layer of support for managing products as they move toward export markets.
Supporting Specialty Crop Exports
USDA says the investment is part of a larger effort to improve the competitiveness of U.S. specialty crops in international markets. The ACE Initiative covers a range of commodities, including fruits, vegetables, pulses, potatoes and tree nuts.
The agency says the initiative is intended to expand export opportunities, advance science-based trade standards and help specialty crop producers navigate growing trade barriers.
For the U.S. tree nut industry, improved postharvest technology could provide another tool for protecting product quality while meeting pest-control and phytosanitary requirements in export markets.
The investment also comes as specialty crop industries continue looking for ways to strengthen their position in global trade. Developing more efficient storage and packaging systems could help handlers manage products more effectively while supporting access to international customers.
USDA expects awards for the project to be made during fiscal year 2027, pending approval of the department’s spending plan.
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