United States Specialty Crop Growers Applaud Legislation Supporting Domestic Marketing and Farming Efficiencies
WASHINGTON, DC - Last week, the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) backed legislation addressing major priorities for this year's Farm Bill. Now, the association applauds the introduction of two bills that would further support some of the significant ideas laid out in its 2023 Farm Bill Recommendations.
“We appreciate the work of this bipartisan group of House Members for recognizing the needs of specialty crop growers as we work to improve efficiencies and develop domestic markets for United States-grown produce and other specialty crops,” the SCFBA Co-Chairs said in a joint statement. “We look forward to working with Congress to increase the Farm Bill’s investments in the competitiveness and sustainability of the U.S. specialty crop industry, producing a strong return for all Americans.”
According to a release, the two bills that were introduced include:
- Specialty Crop Mechanization Assistance Act of 2023, introduced by Reps. David Valadao (CA-22), Jim Costa (CA-21), and Doug LaMalfa (CA-1) would establish a new cost-share grant program to help growers purchase newly commercialized mechanization and automation equipment to increase the efficiency of specialty crop production
- Specialty Crop Domestic Market Promotion and Development Program Act of 2023, introduced by Reps. David Valadao (CA-22), Darren Soto (FL-9), and Doug LaMalfa (CA-1) would establish a new program within USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, modeled after the successful foreign Market Access Program to fund the implementation of a domestic market development program specifically for specialty crops
The SCFBA was created to advocate for the unique needs of specialty crop growers in the Farm Bill to bolster their overall competitiveness in the industry, especially amid increased global competition and regulatory and buyer demands.
It is led by Co-Chairs Mike Joyner, President of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association; Dave Puglia, President and Chief Executive Officer of Western Growers; and Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council; with Robert Guenther, Chief Public Policy Officer for International Fresh Produce Association, who serves as secretariat for the Alliance.
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