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The fresh fruit and vegetable industry represents a vitally important segment of American agriculture and brings crops to market that are essential to the health of all Americans. While the produce industry does not grow fruits and vegetables in every Congressional district, our industry is important to the good health of all Americans, as well as to our government's efforts to prevent disease, reduce obesity and improve the well-being of our citizens. The federal government and Congress recognized the importance of our sector of the agriculture industry by passing a host of important provisions in the 2008 Farm Bill. These provisions are a start in helping the fruit and vegetable industry remain world leaders in food production and competitiveness.
2012 Farm Bill
'As Congress takes up the 2012 Farm Bill, United Fresh is engaging fresh produce industry stakeholders to build upon the successes of the 2008 Farm Bill. The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance is a national coalition of more than 120 organizations representing growers of fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, nursery plants and other products. Learn more at this website: www.strongeragriculture.org.
Background
Farm Bills provide USDA the authority to operate programs using provisions specified in the law. For most programs, authorization to operate expires after five years. The current farm law (the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008) remains in force through 2012.
After almost two years of preparation, a year of debate and a Presidential veto override, the Food, Conservation and Energy Act, became law on May 22, 2008. For the first time ever, this bill contained a significant level of funding to address specialty crop needs. The bill provides approximately $3 billion for our industry to address priorities, such as battling pests and disease from entering the U.S. and increasing research, food safety, consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, access to international markets access and investments in infrastructure. This legislation also makes a strong commitment to improving nutrition and decreasing obesity among children by expanding the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program to reach more than one million kids in all 50 states.
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