FFVA News Release,FLORIDA FRUIT AND VEGETABLE ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS INTRODUCTION OF EAT HEALTHY AMERICA ACT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Lisa Lochridge
FFVA Director of Public Affairs
321-214-5200

FLORIDA FRUIT AND VEGETABLE ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS INTRODUCTION OF EAT HEALTHY AMERICA ACT

March 20, 2007 – Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA) applauds U.S. Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), Rep. Randy Kuhl (R-NY), Rep. John Salazar (D-CO), Rep. Adam Putnam (R-FL), Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA), and Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) for their introduction today of the Equitable Agriculture Today for a Healthy America Act (EAT Healthy America Act). As a member of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) FFVA has endorsed this bill as a necessary and proactive step to ensure that specialty crop producers remain competitive by including their policy priorities in the 2007 Farm Bill.

The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, a national coalition of more than 90 specialty crop grower organizations, is dedicated to ensuring that the 2007 Farm Bill includes policy provisions that enhance the competitiveness of the U.S. specialty crop industry and increase consumption of the more than 300 specialty crops grown in the United States.

“This bill focuses on allowing specialty crop producers to explore new markets while helping them conserve our natural resources and contribute to the health of Americans,” said FFVA President Mike Stuart. “We look forward to working with the Agriculture Committee and other members of Congress to help craft a Farm Bill that recognizes the unique contributions specialty crops make to this country,” said Stuart.

“While specialty crop producers do not favor a direct payment program for themselves, the reality is that the specialty crop industry across the nation contributes nearly 50 percent of farm cash receipts,” said Danny Raulerson, FFVA’s director of Marketing Membership and International Trade. “The EAT Healthy America Act contains comprehensive language that addresses issues that benefit the specialty crop industry as well as the tax payers.”

A comprehensive farm bill, the EAT Healthy Act addresses four main issues – competitiveness, nutrition, research, and invasive pests and diseases:

Competitiveness – Increases global competitiveness by providing access to important export markets through the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops program, the Market Access Program, the Block Grant Program, and by raising the profile for specialty crops within USDA, USTR, and other key federal agencies.
Nutrition – Contributes to the nutrition of young America through the fruit and vegetable snack program in schools across the nation, and develops new nutrition programs to assist producers in enhancing their markets.
Research – Encourages vital research by investing in research priorities for specialty crops through the National Research Initiative, Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service, and Agriculture Research Service.
Invasive pests and diseases – Combats invasive pests and diseases by increasing research funding, enhancing current resources, and authorizing and expanding programs to assist in the prevention, detection, and eradication of invasive plant pests and diseas

Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (www.ffva.com) is an agricultural trade organization representing Florida's producers of fruits, vegetables and other crops.

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