Senators call on USDA to pay growers, ramp up produce purchases
Twenty-nine U.S. senators have asked Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to use money from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act to directly pay specialty crop growers and to immediately increase purchases of fresh produce for food banks and federal feeding programs.
The April 13 letter was signed by Sens. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and 27 other senators. Maine Republican Susan Collins and Maine Independent Angus King signed the letter; all the other signees were all Democrats.
“The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act established a $9.5 billion disaster fund and specifically included producers of specialty crops as eligible for assistance,” the senators said in the letter. “As USDA specifies how this assistance will be provided, we ask that you ensure that specialty crop producers receive assistance that is commensurate with the losses they are facing.”
The letter said that the fresh produce industry has experienced $5 billion in losses from the coronavirus pandemic, with additional losses expected in the coming months. What’s more, many face increased costs “in order to meet social distancing requirements and adequately protect their workers from coronavirus,” according to the letter.
The letter urges USDA to provide direct payments to eligible producers for lost revenue and increased production costs related to COVID-19. The senators also asked USDA to purchase specialty crops for redistribution to food banks, schools and emergency feeding organizations.
“To immediately reduce the inventory of product and stabilize prices, we also ask that USDA purchase fresh and processed specialty crops for redistribution to food banks, schools, and emergency feeding organizations,” according to the letter.
The senators said growers have lost contracts with schools and restaurants, schools that are continuing to serve fresh product have substantially reduced their orders, and export challenges are many.
“At a time when Americans are facing job losses on an unprecedented scale, and food banks are experiencing increased demand, a policy that can both support farmers and provide food for those in need is a win-win,” the lawmakers said in the letter.
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