Legislation Introduced Includes Specialty Crop Priorities
March 23, 2007
The Equitable Agriculture Today for a Healthy America Act, commonly known as the EAT Healthy America Act, was introduced in the House this week, marking an important milestone in the specialty crop industry's efforts to help influence priorities for the 2007 Farm Bill. On Tuesday, Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-Calif.), Rep. Adam Putnam (R-Fla.), Rep. John Salazar (D-Colo.), Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), and Rep. Randy Kuhl (R-N.Y.) held a press conference on Capitol Hill announcing plans to introduce the strongly supported legislation, which has 63 co-sponsors from over 20 different states. United Fresh applauded the legislation, which serves as a benchmark for the specialty crop industry's Farm Bill priorities and will help drive produce consumption while enhancing the industry's overall infrastructure. "This bill represents our best opportunity to lay the foundation for a strong and vibrant specialty crop industry for the next 25 years," said Robert Guenther, United Fresh senior vice president of public policy. United Fresh serves on the Steering Committee of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) and helped develop a series of farm bill priorities found in the EAT Healthy America Act. The SCFBA is a national coalition of more than 100 specialty crop organizations, working to develop mutual objectives for the 2007 Farm Bill and to assure a common platform across regions, commodities and other interests. Guenther serves as the coalition's Legislative Committee's co-chair. For more information, please contact Robert Guenther at (202) 303-3409.
United Fresh Produce Association
1901 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: 202 303 3400
Fax: 202 303 3433 united@unitedfresh.org
