WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 21, 2024) – The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) has issued the following statement following the release of the U.S. House farm bill draft:

“The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance appreciates the work of House Agriculture Committee Chairman Thompson and others for moving the farm bill process forward and for recognizing the importance of specialty crops with several key investments, including for research, innovation, crop insurance and trade. Investments like these are vital to maintaining and enhancing the competitiveness of our growers across the U.S. and to support a healthier America. It is critical they appear in the final conference report.”

The SCFBA further stated, “We continue to assess the impact on specialty crops that may result from changes to the Commodity Credit Corporation and the Thrifty Food Program. We know the only path forward for a farm bill this Congress is a bipartisan one and are hopeful that lead negotiators in the House and Senate will come together to resolve any disagreements in time for a five-year farm bill to be signed into law by the President this year.”

The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance is a national coalition of more than 200 organizations representing growers of fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, nursery plants and other products. The Alliance was established to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crop agriculture and improve the health of Americans by broadening the scope of U.S. agricultural public policy. For more information, visit farmbillalliance.com.