Spring brings anticipation for U.S. fruit and vegetable growers as they await crucial financial support following a protracted wait. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is set to begin disbursing payments to specialty crop farmers under a program announced last December.
Specialty crops, encompassing a variety of fruits and vegetables, will benefit from the $1 billion allocation under the Farmer Bridge Assistance program. However, exact payment rates for these crops will not be revealed until the end of March, with distributions following shortly after.
Despite this assistance, industry representatives argue that the funds are insufficient. Tamas Houlihan, executive director of the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Grower Association, expressed concerns: “It’s simply not enough, especially when it’s spread out over all these specialty crops, as well as sugar and some of these other commodities are now tapping into that.”
In response, Houlihan’s association and over 100 other organizations are lobbying Congress for an additional $5 billion in aid, citing significant losses in the sector. For instance, potato growers have reportedly faced $789 million in losses over the past three years, attributed to reduced demand and increased competition from international markets.
Challenges persist as competitors from China and India increase their exports, while domestic tariffs on machinery and inputs drive up production costs. This situation is exacerbated for Wisconsin growers, who face potential cuts in volume and reduced pricing from major processors.
Labor costs also present a critical issue. Alyssa Houtby from the North American Blueberry Council highlighted the need for legislative reforms, saying, “American workers don’t want to do the job that we need.” She urged Congress to address the H-2A visa program to alleviate labor shortages.
North American Blueberry Council
The economic environment remains challenging, with Kam Quarles of the National Potato Council emphasizing the urgency of support: “With every day that passes, we are getting deeper and deeper into one of the most difficult economic environments that growers have faced in the last half century.”
In a related development, the USDA announced $150 million in aid for the sugar beet and sugar cane industries, intended to offset “temporary market disruptions and increased production and processing costs.”
This story was produced in partnership with Harvest Public Media, a collaboration of public media newsrooms in the Midwest and Great Plains. It reports on food systems, agriculture, and rural issues.
