United Fresh Discusses Issues Facing Produce With Lawmakers
Washington D.C.-
By ANUK Staff
2.18.13
This week, over 30 members of United Fresh’s Government Relations Council met in Washington D.C. to discuss immigration reform, food safety, and other policy issues facing the produce industry.
Members of the council, representing United’s membership from companies and industry affiliated groups met with top Obama Administration officials, Congress members, and policy advisors.
“The United Fresh Produce Association's Government Relations Council meetings this last week in Washington DC provided an excellent opportunity for groups from all over the country to discuss and strategize about such vital topics as the Food Safety Modernization Act, Obamacare, Nutrition policy and the Farm Bill.” Said Barry Bedwell, Chairman of United Fresh Government Relations Council. “But no subject was more important than the chance to achieve real comprehensive immigration reform in the near future. That was the primary message to members on Capitol Hill.”
“Immigration reform has the best chance to pass this year,” said USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, who met with the Council on Tuesday to review top priority issues. “An agricultural labor solution alone won’t pass,” he added. “Any immigration solution must be comprehensive.”
According to Vilsack, an immigration reform package is of utmost importance this year as the issue could be bogged down in election year politics in 2014.
With a deadline of March 1 fast approaching for deep automatic spending cuts, Secretary Vilsack predicted that there would likely be some disruption of services from USDA. Further, responding to questions from Council members about APHIS funding, the secretary said APHIS funding has been “under attack” and that USDA is prioritizing eradication and containment programs to save money.
Sec. Vilsack said that the USDA remains committed to the USDA MyPlate standard which calls for fruits and vegetables to comprise half of every meal.
He added, “We could not have gotten as far as we have on school nutrition without the support of the fruit and vegetable industry.”
“We have proposed rules that we believe are commensurate with the risk,” said Scott. “If you disagree, I hope you’ll let us know.”
“I think the Preventive Controls Rule is going to have a larger impact on the produce industry than many expected,” said Tom Stenzel, United’s president and CEO. “There are going to be many questions.”
