FFVA News Release, FFVA APPLAUDS SENATORS FOR INTRODUCTION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

PASSAGE OF FARM BILL IN HOUSE
A VICTORY FOR SPECIALTY CROP INDUSTRY

MAITLAND, Fla. (July 27, 2007) – The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association applauded the U.S. House of Representatives today for passing the Farm Bill (H.R. 2419), which addresses for the first time the priorities and needs of the specialty crop industry.

“This is a history-making bill for our industry,” said FFVA President Mike Stuart. “FFVA has worked for more than two years as part of a broad-based national coalition of specialty crop organizations on a Farm Bill that is balanced and equitable for our industry. This is a strong step in the right direction, and we look forward to working with the Senate as the bill moves forward.”

Specialty crops account for nearly half of all cash crop receipts in the United States, but they have received little consideration in previous Farm Bills. “This is a comprehensive bill that provides the framework we need to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops and increase Americans’ consumption of fruits and vegetables,” Stuart said. “We appreciate the hard work of Speaker Pelosi and her leadership team, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson, Congressman Dennis Cardoza and Florida’s congressional delegation.”

Among other measures, the bill would:

Expand the USDA Fruit & Vegetable Snack Program to all 50 states. The program helps children develop lifelong healthy eating habits by increasing their consumption of fruits and vegetables
Enhance critical trade assistance and market promotion tools that would broaden the industry’s access to international markets
Expand on research to combat invasive pest and diseases, which cost the industry millions of dollars a year
Increase investment in research to improve the taste and quality of foods
Expand Specialty Crop Competitiveness Projects in all 50 states to address local priorities

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

--30--