Agriculture Policy & Programs
Food Safety Policy, Technology & Regulatory Affairs
Labor and Immigration Reform
Health & Nutrition
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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.
Background
In May 2005, agricultural industry leaders united, forming the "Farm Bill Working Group" to develop policy recommendations for the next farm bill. What began as twenty-four different specialty crop organizations grew into the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, a coalition called of more than 120 specialty crop organizations from across the country. The Alliance developed the "Farm Bill Working Group: Specialty Crop Industry Priorities for the 2007 Farm Bill,” which focused on enhancing the competitiveness of the specialty crop industry, while increasing consumption.
These principles formed the basis for both the Specialty Crops Competition Act and the Equitable Agriculture Today (EAT) for a Healthy America Act. Sponsored by Reps. Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), Adam Putnam (R-FL), John Salazar (D-CO), Randy Kuhl (R-NY), Rick Larsen (D-WA) and Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) in the House (H.R. 1600), and Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Senator Larry Craig (R-ID) in the Senate (S. 1160), those bills provided a comprehensive farm bill package, with the necessary framework to enhance the competitiveness of the specialty crop industry and increase consumer consumption of fruits and vegetables.
Current Status
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.
Implementation
The Administration is now working to implement the specific provisions of the Farm Bill. This process is significant in that regulations are being constructed that will govern the various programs for the next five years. To the extent that Congress was not overly prescriptive in the legislation, the Administration will have significant say in the operations of these wide-ranging activities.
United Fresh has been working with Congress, the Administration and the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance to craft useful comments as these provisions are written. This interaction is particularly important in that many of these programs are new or are significantly expanded parts of the Farm Bill. It is our intent to create strong, efficient programs that will serve the produce industry well for many years, and Farm Bills, to come.
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Pictured Left to Right is: Representative Jim Costa (CA-20), House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (MN-7), United Fresh President & CEO Tom Stenzel, and Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture Chairman Dennis Cardoza (CA-18). |
Essential Policy Resources
Archived Resources
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