Specialty Crop Legislation To Be Introduced in Senate
April 13, 2007
Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Larry Craig (R-ID) will introduce the Specialty Crops Competition Act of 2007, legislation that seeks to enhance the fruit and vegetable industry by implementing numerous specialty crop 2007 Farm Bill priorities. "We applaud the Senators for drafting comprehensive legislation that includes Farm Bill priorities geared towards the specialty crop industry," said Robert Guenther, United Fresh senior vice president of public policy. "We are confident that this bill will provide a vital pathway for the specialty crop industry to be competitive in an increasingly global marketplace," he said. A House companion bill, the EAT Healthy America Act, was introduced last month by Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), along with original co-sponsors Reps. Adam Putnam (R-FL), John Salazar (D-CO), Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Rick Larsen (D-WA), and Randy Kuhl (R-NY). The introduction of these bills marks an important milestone in the specialty crop industry's efforts to help influence priorities for the 2007 Farm Bill. The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, a national coalition of more than 95 specialty crop grower organizations, helped develop a series of farm bill priorities that are found in both the Specialty Crops Competition Act of 2007 and the EAT Healthy America Act. United Fresh serves at the Alliance's secretariat. For more information, 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
