The Morning Harvest: Farm and Food News, No. 031, Tuesday, November 10, 2026
Today in 30 seconds
SNAP: USDA's proposed rule would cut an estimated 6.3 million people from the program at full effect in fiscal 2029.
Recall: 2,414 Fresh To You biscuit sandwiches are recalled over Listeria, sold only in Oregon and Washington.
Blueberries: the advertised pint fell to $4.76 from $5.98 in a week, while a Philadelphia flat of 12 pints held at $36 to $38.
In season: broccoli bunches average $2.95 in ads, down from $3.44, and cauliflower is $3.09 each.
Could you grow this: blackberries need only 4 to 6 plants for a family of 4, and most thornless types fruit in year 2.
Garden State: USDA forecasts 4.116 million bushels of New Jersey soybeans, up from 3.861 million last year.
What is SNAP broad-based categorical eligibility, and why is USDA trying to end it?
What USDA proposed. USDA published a proposed rule on Tuesday, Nov 10, 2026, titled "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Reforming Categorical Eligibility" (Federal Register document 2026-22936, signed by Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden). It would limit "categorical eligibility" to households that receive TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) "assistance," and end it for households that get only noncash, TANF-funded services. Those services can be as simple as a brochure or a hotline. That state option is called broad-based categorical eligibility, or BBCE. It lets a state raise SNAP's gross income limit above the federal standard of 130% of poverty, up to 200%, and drop the asset test. The net income test still applies. It is a proposal only: it has no effective date, and it changes nothing until a final rule is published.
Where SNAP stands today. USDA's latest data (tables dated Oct 9, 2026, with June and July figures still preliminary) shows 36,087,667 people on SNAP in July 2026. That is down 13.3% from 41,603,048 in July 2025, about 5.5 million fewer people. The average benefit was $187.56 per person, or $344.70 per household. In New Jersey, 749,216 people were on SNAP in July 2026, down from 816,782 a year earlier. New Jersey uses BBCE for all households, with a 185% of poverty income limit and no asset test. In FY2024, USDA says about 39% of participants are children and about 20% are age 60 or older, and 79% of households include a child, elderly or disabled member. SNAP dollars are grocery and produce dollars, and Circana (reported by FoodNavigator, Aug 21, 2026) says SNAP household participation was down about 14% by May and that SNAP EBT spending is expected to fall $10 billion in 2026. So the program was already shrinking before this rule.
Who would lose benefits. The households most affected sit above the federal income line but below their state's higher one. The federal gross limit for a family of 3 is $2,888 a month (130% of poverty, FY2026, per the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, CBPP). The federal asset limit is $3,000, or $4,500 when a member is 60 or older or disabled. For that family of 3, a 185% limit works out to about $4,110 a month (2,888 / 130 x 185) and a 200% limit to about $4,443 (2,888 / 130 x 200); these are our calculations, not USDA's. CBPP, an advocacy group, gives this example: a single mother with 2 children who gets a 70-cent raise loses about $302 a month in benefits without BBCE, versus about $44 with it.
Which states use BBCE. The 43 states plus DC that use it (USDA table, Jun 29, 2026) are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah and Wyoming do not. Limits vary: 26 states and DC go up to 200% of poverty, 3 states (New Jersey, Rhode Island and Vermont) use 185%, and 7 (Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Ohio, Oklahoma and South Carolina) keep 130% and use BBCE only to waive the asset test. The remaining states have other limits.
Why USDA says it is needed, and what it estimates. USDA's argument is that BBCE has effectively raised the federal limits without Congress acting. In the rule, it says the share of participants living in households over the federal limits grew from about 4% in fiscal 2010 to 10% in fiscal 2018. It cites a 2012 GAO finding of a 17.2% payment error rate for over-income BBCE households, versus 6.7% for other households. It also says more than 840,000 households of 1 or 2 people received only the minimum benefit through BBCE in 2024, at a cost of about $214 million. USDA's own estimate is that at full effect in FY2029, 3.2 million households and 6.3 million people (17.6% of participants) would lose SNAP, and that federal benefit spending would fall about $44.6 billion over FY2027 to FY2031. It also estimates that 1.78 million children would lose automatic free school meal eligibility, though about 97% would still qualify on income. States would net save about $5.2 billion, made up of $6.17 billion less in benefit transfers and $929 million more in administrative costs. The rule's estimates cover households and federal dollars, not farm sales.
What is not known yet, and who has weighed in. There is no final text, no effective date, and no list of which states would have to change. Nobody yet knows how many comments will arrive, whether lawsuits will follow, or whether Congress will act. The comment period runs 30 days after publication, calculated as Dec 10, 2026; confirm it on the rule's Federal Register page. To comment, search regulations.gov for the rule's title. The best precedent is USDA's July 24, 2019 proposal (document 2019-15670), which estimated 3.1 million people would lose SNAP according to Bloomberg Law and FRAC. USDA withdrew it on June 9, 2021, and it was never finalized. That is precedent, not a prediction. On reaction, FRAC (Food Research and Action Center) analysts Gina Plata-Nino and Dory Thrasher urged keeping BBCE on June 12, 2026, and CBPP has said in an undated 2026 explainer that ending BBCE would cut about 6 million people; both came before the rule was published. On the other side, the Washington Sun (Nov 9) quotes an unnamed USDA spokesperson saying BBCE "bloated the welfare rolls for decades" and calling it a loophole. Politico reports that Project 2025 recommended this change, and the Washington Sun reports, secondhand, that Secretary Brooke Rollins criticized SNAP eligibility on Fox News in April. Reaction to the proposal itself is still coming.
The state cost share most people missed. Under the 2025 reconciliation law (P.L. 119-21), starting Oct 1, 2027, states pay a share of SNAP benefits based on their payment error rate: below 6% pays 0%, 6% to 7.99% pays 5%, 8% to 9.99% pays 10%, and 10% or more pays 15%. States with an error rate at or above 13.33% get delayed starts, on Oct 1, 2028 or Oct 1, 2029. States' share of administrative costs already rose to 75% on Oct 1, 2026 (CRS IN12723, Oct 5, 2026). The Senate farm bill (S. 5526) would delay cost sharing by 1 year; Sen. Boozman (R-Ark.) says 1 year is his final offer, while Sen. Klobuchar (D-Minn.) wants at least 2 (Agri-Pulse, Nov 8). Congress needs a funding deal in the weeks ahead. The catch is that the BBCE rule's $5.2 billion in net state savings and the farm bill delay's $5.2 billion are different numbers that happen to match.
What to do
First, read the rule and comment. The Federal Register public inspection PDF is the full text. Comment on regulations.gov by searching the rule's title; the period runs about 30 days.
Second, if you sell at a farmers market, ask your market manager whether it is a SNAP-authorized retailer (USDA retailer information) and whether it runs a nutrition incentive such as Double Up Food Bucks. The Nutrition Incentive Hub and the GusNIP grant program explain how those work. GusNIP had $56 million in mandatory funding for fiscal 2026 (CRS).
Third, tell your members of Congress's agriculture committee staff how SNAP sales show up at your stand, and keep your own sales records by month.
Shoppers: if your household uses SNAP, check your state's SNAP agency for notices. Nothing changes until a rule is final.
Sources:USDA SNAP data tables, Oct 9, 2026; Federal Register public inspection, doc 2026-22936, Nov 9, 2026; Politico, Nov 9, 2026; Bloomberg Law, Nov 9, 2026; Washington Sun, Nov 9, 2026; USDA BBCE state table, Jun 29, 2026; CRS IF12255, Apr 15, 2026; CRS IN12723, Oct 5, 2026; Agri-Pulse, Nov 8, 2026; FoodNavigator (Circana), Aug 21, 2026; CBPP (undated 2026 explainer); FRAC, Jun 12, 2026.
Is there a recall on Fresh To You sausage, egg and cheese biscuit sandwiches?
Yes. Fresh & Ready Foods LLC of Renton, Washington, announced the recall on Nov 7, 2026, and FDA posted it Nov 8. The product is the Fresh To You Sausage, Egg & Cheese Biscuit Sandwich, 4.6 oz, in clear film. The concern is Listeria monocytogenes. FDA's notice says a biscuit ingredient came from supplier CH Guenther & Son, which recalled biscuits over possible Listeria.
It is small and regional: 2,414 units sold only in Oregon and Washington, in break rooms, refrigerated vending machines and cafeterias, Oct 25 to Nov 4. No illnesses are reported. It does show how one ingredient supplier's problem can reach a finished food. CDC says about 1,600 people in the U.S. get sick from Listeria each year. Higher risk groups are pregnant women, newborns, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems.
Identify it: SKU 3100048, UPC 8 405493 0168 4, "Fresh Thru" 11/07 to 11/19.
What to do:
Do not eat it. Throw it away.
Questions: RecallConcern@HotLineGlobal.com or 1-855-424-8390, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.
If you feel sick, call a doctor.
At home, CDC advises reheating deli meats, hot dogs and dry sausages to 165 F or until steaming hot.
Sources: FDA recall notice, Nov 8, 2026; Food Safety News; CDC Listeria prevention page, Jan 31, 2025.
Why are blueberries cheaper at the store this week?
The advertised retail price dropped, while Philadelphia wholesale on Nov 3 was steady. On Oct 30 (Ep. 22) we covered Peru blueberries at $35 to $38 a flat at the dock, against an advertised $5.69 a pint at the store. Since then, USDA's weekly retail report (ads Oct 31 to Nov 12, published Nov 6) puts a conventional pint at $4.76 across 2,696 ads. That is down about 20% from $5.98 the week before, and up about 46% from $3.25 a year ago.
Over the same stretch, Philadelphia wholesale on Nov 3 was mostly $36 to $38 a flat of 12 pints, and steady, per USDA data summarized by IndexBox. That is roughly $3.00 a pint. USDA's retail report tracks advertised prices, and the advertised pint moved $1.22 in one week while the flat held. That points to store pricing and promotions more than the wholesale market.
Supply is still tight. One trade report, FreshPlaza (Oct 16), has Peru exports over the next 8 weeks of about 108,000 tonnes against 156,000 last season, down 31.2%, blamed on El Niño.
What to do:
Compare per ounce: the pint is about $0.30 an ounce, and the 6 oz pack at $3.00 is $0.50 (our calculation).
Buy the pint, and freeze extras.
Growers: FreshPlaza has Peru running short into December, which leaves a domestic supply window.
Sources: USDA AMS weekly retail report, Nov 6, 2026; IndexBox (USDA Philadelphia terminal data), Nov 3, 2026; FreshPlaza, Oct 16, 2026.
Are broccoli and cauliflower cheaper in November 2026?
Yes, a little: broccoli and cauliflower are both below last week but above last year. USDA's Nov 6 retail report has broccoli bunches at $2.95 in ads (down from $3.44 last week, up from $2.48 a year ago) and cauliflower at $3.09 each (down from $3.45, up from $2.87 a year ago).
Shipping-point prices had already fallen. USDA's Oct 26 report had Salinas broccoli, bunched 14s, mostly $13.65 to $16.75 a carton. On Oct 14 it was mostly $23.45 to $26.75, so it fell about 40% in 12 days (our calculation).
Supply comes mostly from California right now. Trade reports blamed diamondback moth, a caterpillar pest, for the earlier spike: Buyers Edge (Oct 8) rated broccoli supply "extreme," and PSLA (Oct 19) said supply was recovering gradually. Both are single trade sources. Trade reports expect the harvest to shift from Salinas to Yuma, Arizona, around mid to late November, with no confirmed start date.
What to do:
Buy broccoli this week. Choose dark green florets (MSU Extension).
Refrigerate in a perforated bag and use within 3 days. For cauliflower, pick bright, compact curds (Purdue FoodLink).
Gardeners: mild climates can transplant from September to February (UC Master Gardener). In cold zones, start seed indoors 4 to 5 weeks before a mid-April transplant (Iowa State).
Sources: USDA AMS weekly retail report, Nov 6, 2026; USDA AMS shipping point report IX_FV120, Oct 26, 2026; USDA shipping point trends, Oct 14, 2026; Buyers Edge, Oct 8, 2026; PSLA, Oct 19, 2026; MSU Extension, Jul 26, 2023; Purdue FoodLink, undated; Iowa State Extension, undated.
Can you grow blackberries in your backyard?
Yes, and November is when the planning starts. Blackberries need full sun, well-drained loam and a soil pH around 6.0 to 6.5. Oregon State advises a soil test a year or more before planting.
Extension yield figures vary by type, from roughly 5 to 20 lb a plant. Texas A&M AgriLife says 5 to 10 lb. NC State says 10 to 20 lb, though its own intro says up to 10. Oregon State gives, per 10 feet of row, 18 to 28 lb for erect types. NC State suggests 4 to 6 plants for a family of 4.
Most thornless types fruit in year 2, with full production in year 2 to 3. In the South (zones 7 to 9), order bare-root canes now and plant in mid to late winter. Elsewhere, plant in early spring. For the full playbook, Angelo's book, Blackberries in Your Backyard (ebook and printed book), is listed on the farm stand page. Designing a berry planting starts with a soil test and a site plan, and Curated Nature offers design and consulting anywhere in the country, with installs local to Southern New Jersey.
What to do:
Take a soil sample this month.
Pick a sunny spot, order stock, and sketch a trellis plan.
Sources: NC State Extension AG-702-11, Mar 21, 2024; Oregon State Extension EC 1303, rev. Sept 2020; Texas A&M AgriLife E-602, undated; Univ. of Maryland Extension, Dec 2023; Iowa State Extension, reviewed Jul 2026; Mississippi State Extension, undated.
Which crop takes the most acres in New Jersey?
In the 2022 Census of Agriculture, soybeans were New Jersey's top crop by acres, not blueberries: 107,682 acres, ahead of hay at 98,972 and corn at 64,139. USDA NASS's Crop Production report (released Oct 9, reissued Oct 23, 2026) forecasts New Jersey soybean production at 4.116 million bushels, up from 3.861 million in 2025. Yield is forecast at 42 bushels an acre versus 39.
The 2025 marketing year average price was $10.10 a bushel, for a crop value of $38,996,000. At that price, the 2026 forecast works out to about $41.6 million (our calculation, not a NASS figure). Soybeans took about 99,000 harvested acres in 2025, roughly 9 times the 10,900 for blueberries. The price and yield math is the same as in Iowa.
What to do:
Rutgers' Plant and Pest Advisory says October and November is the winter cover crop window, and that wheat planted in November risks yield loss. After soybean harvest, get a cover crop in if weather allows.
Send a soil sample for pH and potassium through Rutgers or your own state's Extension soil lab.
Sources: USDA NASS Crop Production, Oct 23, 2026; USDA NASS New Jersey state overview; USDA NASS Agricultural Prices, Sep 29, 2026; USDA 2022 Census of Agriculture; Rutgers Plant and Pest Advisory (undated).
Own land? Stop mowing grass and start growing fruit
If you have land that is mostly grass, it could be a producing orchard, vineyard or berry planting. Curated Nature designs and installs backyard orchards, vineyards and berry plantings, starting with a site assessment and soil testing. Installs and management are local to Southern New Jersey. Design and consulting are available to landowners anywhere, so you can plan a planting from wherever your land is. The first step is a site assessment with soil testing, then a design with irrigation and trellising, and optional maintenance after planting. Start here: Backyard vineyard and orchard installation.
Fruit wants full sun, so this week, walk your land and note where the sun sits all day. The Extension guides above say blackberries need it.
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