Monday United Fresh issued a media statement commenting on U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack's announcement to rescind a decision by the previous administration that would have moved $3.2 million in Specialty Crop Block Grant money to fund oversight and enforcement responsibilities for mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL). 

In the statement Robert Guenther, senior vice president of public policy at United Fresh, said, "It is incomprehensible that the previous leadership at USDA would place the entire burden of funding COOL enforcement on our sector, when COOL applies to meat and seafood as well. If USDA believes additional funding is required for COOL enforcement, we strongly believe Congress should appropriate funding solely for that purpose."

Last December, former Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer's informed Congress that he would shift the funds from Specialty Crop Block Grant to COOL enforcement. Since that time, United Fresh worked with congressional leaders and the new Administration to protect the Specialty Crop Block Grants. For more on this resounding win, contact Robert at 202-303-3400 ext. 409.