House farm bill passes but 'all forms' expansion stays

07/12/2012 8:54:36 AM
Tom Karst

(UPDATED COVERAGE, July 12) The fight to keep the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program exclusively for fresh produce isn’t over yet.

In passing their version of the 2012 farm bill in a marathon session July 11, the House Agriculture Committee let stand a provision that expands the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program to also include frozen, dried and canned fruits and vegetables.

After the committee mark-up session that considered 100 amendments was finally over past midnight, the House Agriculture Committee approved the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2012 by a vote of 35-11.

Industry lobbyists said there was much good in the committee-approved version of the farm bill but said a major sore spot for fresh produce industry remains.

“We are happy with the broad bill and the funding levels included on key priorities,” said Robert Guenther, senior vice president of public policy for United Fresh Produce Association. “We continue to be disappointed that the committee has moved forward with the Fruit and Vegetable Program ‘all forms’ provision, and we are committed to working hard to get that addressed.”

Passed in late June, the Senate’s  version of the bill kept the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program fresh-only. If the House passes its version with an “all-forms” provision, the bills must be reconciled in conference committee.

A coalition of more than 50 organizations, including school nutrition associations in New York, California and Texas, sent a letter July 10 to House Agriculture Committee leaders, supporting the expanded program, said Corey Henry, vice president of communications for the McLean,Va.-based American Frozen Food Institute.

“We’re confident we have a very good group of supporters to go to bat to expand the program, who recognize the health benefits and the economic benefits schools could gain from that provision,” he added.

Tom O’Brien, Washington, D.C.-based representative for the Newark, Del.-based Produce Marketing Association, said PMA supports the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance position that dried fruit should be added to the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.

Guenther said Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Calif., offered an amendment during the hearing to put “fresh” back in the title of the program. The amendment would have restored fresh fruits and vegetables only in the program, but the amendment was withdrawn after Rep. Reid Ribble, R-Wisc., objected to the amendment on procedural grounds. .

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More pork. I would like to see what the 100 amendments were. In any way AT ALL
related to the "Farm Bill"?? JLH

American Frozen Food Institute President and CEO Kraig R. Naasz today commended the House Agriculture Committee for approving a new Farm Bill that will enable elementary schools to serve a broader range of healthy fruits and vegetables to the children they serve. Expanding the USDA Fruit and Vegetable Program to include all forms of fruits and vegetables will help enhance childhood nutrition and promote healthy eating habits by providing schools year-round access to the widest possible variety of healthy and affordable fruits and vegetables in all forms.