The U.S. Apple Association board of directors recent met with the Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and key members of the USDA senior leadership team to talk about the importance of market access, agriculture labor reforms and renewal of the farm bill.
“The USApple directors were anxious to thank Secretary Vilsack and his team for their hard work on our behalf,” Steve Clement, PNW Tree Fruit CEO and USApple board chair, said in a news release. “That includes helping us regain a market presence in India — previously our second-largest export market — and purchasing a significant volume of apples for community food banks and other destinations. Leveraging that surplus to help feed Americans is a win-win.
“We also took the opportunity to share how desperate apple growers are for agricultural labor reform,” he continued. “The rapidly increasing cost of farm labor is untenable and threatening the future of multi-generational family orchards across the country. The discussion was open, specific and productive.”
Other participants in the meeting included Alexis Taylor, undersecretary for international trade; Jenny Lester Moffitt, undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs; and Silvia Fabela, senior adviser for ag labor, the release said.
USApple said the impact of the apple industry in the U.S. is expansive, as it creates 150,000 jobs and is responsible for more than $23 billion in economic output. Historically, the U.S. has exported one-third of its apple crop, however, exports are at their lowest level in a decade.
In addition to seeking Vilsack’s help with market access and agricultural adjustment purchases, the USApple board asked for assistance in fixing agriculture labor policy.
“The majority of apple growers are now in the H-2A program and experiencing spiraling costs and untenable regulations,” USApple President and CEO Jim Bair said in the release. “Making matters worse, there are new proposed regulatory changes that would add further burden and expense. Our board did a great job advocating for USDA to work with its agency partners to reform agriculture labor in a meaningful way. We need a stable, adequate and predictable workforce for apple growers.”
The group also discussed the importance of the farm bill and its renewal this year. Getting additional Market Access Program funding for specialty crops is critical, as well as maintaining funding for research and other agriculture department programs that directly impact the industry, the release said.
Board members finished the day on Capitol Hill educating legislators about these same issues, as part of USApple’s annual Fly-In.
