FFVA, lawmakers, press USDA on grapefruit inspections
On Thursday, a bipartisan letter was sent to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack to urge the USDA “immediately reverse” its decision to suspend Section 8e grapefruit juice content standards for imported grapefruits via marketing order “Patch #65.”
The letter was led by U.S. Senators Marco Rubio, Rick Scott and Ted Cruz, and signed by 20 congressional members from Florida and Texas.
The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association issued the following statement in support of this action:
“Low-cost, low-quality grapefruit from Mexico has been entering the U.S. for weeks now due to the USDA’s suspension of the juice content requirement for imports. Juice content is a key component of quality and a federal standard Florida and Texas growers are required to meet.
FFVA is pleased that members of the Florida and Texas congressional delegation have shown such strong support in seeking relief for domestic grapefruit growers. The Dec. 9, 2021, bipartisan letter is a positive step in our ongoing efforts to reinstate federal requirements for imports immediately and to seek information regarding the circumstances of the suspension.
Unfortunately, this regulatory ‘patch’ has already resulted in millions of dollars in real economic harm to growers in Florida and Texas.If we do not ensure a level playing field for American producers of fresh fruits and vegetables, we will become a country that relies on foreign sources for its food, and that is a national security issue.
To stem the harm and discrimination that USDA has initiated against our own U.S. producers, we urge the USDA reverse the suspension immediately and permanently using expedited procedures.”
