The trade body says government reopening restores stability to essential programmes sustaining America’s food system, with critical nutrition programs like SNAP and WIC able to resume operations
The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) has welcomed the “overdue action” of Congress to reopen the federal government in the US, which it has said helps restore stability to the essential programmes that sustain America’s food system.
IFPA issued a statement from vice president of government relations Rebeckah Adcock, who said that Congressional gridlock had put 48mn Americans at risk of losing access to fresh fruits and vegetables.
”With government operations restored, critical nutrition programmes like SNAP and WIC can once again do what they were designed to do: connect growers and families to ensure access to fresh, nutritious food,” she outlined.
“Reopening the government enables USDA to address urgently needed economic relief for growers that had been stalled amid the shutdown.
”Farmers have been waiting for economic assistance through emergency support mechanisms available to ease mounting financial pressures,” Adcock explained.
The shutdown had intensified financial pressures on American families and growers alike, she stated.
”Getting relief programmes tailored to the unique needs of specialty crop growers moving again is vital to sustaining farm operations and ensuring consumers continue to have access to fresh, affordable produce.
“IFPA also applauds the Department of Labor’s actions to alleviate workforce disruptions that occurred during the shutdown, which took place during a pivotal season for US agriculture,” Adcock continued.
”Restoring H-2A visa processing was essential to the industry’s ability to continue operations.”
Now that government operations are back on track, the IFPA urged Congress to build on momentum by taking action on addressing the need for aid to specialty crop growers for ongoing extreme adverse economic conditions and advancing a streamlined Farm Bill that includes key investments for specialty crops and agricultural research.
These investments will strengthen the fresh produce supply chain from field to table and ensure that America’s fruit and vegetable industry prospers into the future, IFPA noted.
“IFPA and its members remain committed to working with policymakers on both sides of the aisle to ensure that all Americans have access to healthy, affordable food and that growers have the resources and stability they need to feed the nation,” Adcock concluded.
