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As House advances Farm Bill, United Fresh voices concern over changes to fresh fruit and vegetable program |
07.13.2012
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United Fresh congratulates the House Agriculture Committee for advancing the "Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act" (FARRM). The Committee's proposed bill was passed with a vote of 35-11 and reinforces many of the commitments that were included in the Senate-passed legislation. The current law expires on September 30 this year.
The House version includes many provisions that support the efforts of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, including Specialty Crop Block Grants at $70 million per year; several years of funded research initiatives; and Plant Pest and Disease programs at $71.5 million starting in FY13. The bill also restores several fruit- and vegetable-oriented programs to levels in the 2008 Farm Bill.
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In addition, the bill advanced by the House also includes an amendment that will help strengthen risk management tools for those adversely affected by food safety recalls.
Unfortunately, the House bill makes a significant policy change to the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program by eliminating the program's focus on fresh fruits and vegetables.
"Opening this program to all forms of fruits and vegetables undermines the goal and focus of the program, which is to provide a fresh option to more than 3 million American school children," explained Robert Guenther, United's senior vice president of public policy. "On a business level, this change has the potential to decrease fresh produce growers' opportunities to provide fresh produce to children that likely would not otherwise have access," he stated.
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