Key Legislative & Regulatory Positions

Trade with Mexico

In March 2009, the U.S. Congress terminated the U.S.−Mexico Cross Border Trucking Pilot Program putting the U.S. in violation of our obligations under the NAFTA agreement. In response, the Mexican government instituted retaliatory tariffs on $2.4 billion worth of U.S. manufactured and agricultural exports.

In August of 2010 the Mexican government revised their list and added apples. Mexico is the largest export market for U.S. apples. Last year, Mexico imported 11.5 million boxes (bushels) of fresh U.S. apples, worth $207 million, and dried apples valued at $23 million. This represents 27.5 % of total U.S. apple export value.

USApple is working aggressively with the White House and Congress to resolve the Mexican trucking dispute. USApple is a member of the Alliance to Keep U.S. Jobs, a broad business coalition working to resolve the Mexican trade dispute. USApple is also enlisting the support of apple state congressional offices in the effort.

Agricultural Labor Reform

USApple´s top policy priority is to enact meaningful agricultural labor reform into law and prevent onerous new regulation and enforcement mechanisms on apple employers. USApple supports passage of agricultural labor legislation that meets the following objectives:

• Provides a stable, adequate, able and predictable supply of agricultural labor able to participate legally in the U.S. and
• Addresses the high level of H−2A wage rates, simplifies the program and provides legal reform to remove unreasonable employer sanctions.

USApple is an active member in three national agricultural labor coalitions: the Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform, the National Council of Agricultural Employers, and the H−2B Coalition.

Agriculture Labor

Food Safety

USApple believes food safety practices should be risk−based, commodity−specific and reflect sound science to help ensure consumers are provided healthy and nutritious apples and other produce items.

Food Safety

Trade with China

China has requested access to the U.S. market for fresh apples. But the USDA has identified numerous pests and plant diseases present in Chinese apple production that do not exist in the United States. Under no circumstance should these pest and disease threats be allowed to enter this country and jeopardize U.S. apple production or marketing. USApple plans to alert interested Members of Congress of any political or regulatory development that would threaten the viability of the U.S. apple industry.

China allows access to its market for a limited number of varieties from specific states. USApple supports expansion of access for additional U.S. varieties.

Chinese Fresh Apples

Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA)

USApple strongly opposes the Employee Free Choice Act, commonly referred to as “card check.” If enacted, the legislation would amend the National Labor Relations Act and replace the secret ballot system with a “card check” system where if a simple majority of employees sign a card, the business is unionized. EFCA also sets a strict timeline for first−time contract negotiations and if it is not met, a federal arbitrator would determine a two−year binding contract covering wages, benefits and other issues. USApple believes that existing methods to join or form a union should be preserved and protected.

Employee Free Choice Act

Health Care Reform

USApple opposed the health care reform bills signed into law early this year. The employer mandates, new taxes and fines are likely to put U.S. apple growers, packers, shippers and processing at a competitive disadvantage. USApple will work through the regulatory and implementation phase to urge the Administration to recognize the unique needs of labor intensive agriculture including the high turnover of workers, and seasonality of many jobs.

Health Care Reform

Global Climate Change

USApple is very concerned by efforts in Congress to pass global climate change legislation that does not take into consideration the unique needs of the apple industry and other energy intensive agriculture. Cap and Trade and other mitigation programs must be designed to allow the apple industry to participate. The impact that such legislation would have on our ability to compete with low−cost producers such as China must also be taken into consideration.

Crop Protection

USApple supports continued access to key crop protection tools and a science−based approach to regulation by EPA and other agencies.

Crop Protection

Farm Bill Implementation & Disaster Assistance

USApple and our Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) are coordinating with Congress and the Administration to ensure successful implementation and full funding of the specialty crop programs in the 2008 Farm Bill. USApple supports mandatory funding for key Farm Bill programs including the Specialty Crop Research Initiative, Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, and the Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program. Federal disaster assistance programs must also be available equally to all growers. USApple works with Congress to ensure that apple growers are eligible for any and all agricultural disaster programs. USApple supports mandatory funding for the Tree Assistance Program (TAP).

Farm Bill Implementation

Growing Demand: Child Nutrition Reauthorization & USDA Purchases

USApple is seeking an increase in the reimbursement rates for school nutrition programs to be used for increased purchase of fruits and vegetables. USApple supports the purchase of apples and apple products by USDA and Department of Defense (DOD) for federal nutrition programs. USApple also urges expansion of programs such as the DOD Fresh Purchase Program, the Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program, and Section 32 purchases as part of the 2009 Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act.

Child Nutrition

Expanding Exports: Promotion Funding & International Trade Agreements

USApple supports free trade agreements when they will gain greater foreign market access for U.S. apple exports and increase export sales opportunities. Meaningful increased market access occurs when trade agreements include provisions to reduce or eliminate foreign import tariffs, and when negotiations resolve unreasonable, non−science based phytosanitary restrictions. USApple supports the Colombia Free Trade Agreement and Korean Free Trade Agreement. Funding for critical trade enhancement programs such as the Market Access Program (MAP) and the Technical Assistance Program for Specialty Crops (TASC) are top USApple priorities.

International Trade

Research

Research priorities supported by USApple include improving plant quality, increasing productivity in orchards, packing operations and processing facilities, and protecting plant health. USApple works with USDA and related research entities to support federal funding and industry collaboration in the priority areas of genetics, genomics and plant breeding, automation, sensor technology and diagnostics, and improving plant health. Additional funding is needed for the National Apple Rootstock Breeding Program in Geneva, New York.

Specialty Crop Research

Biotechnology

USApple endorses a science−based regulatory structure that allows tree fruit biotechnology research to progress but at the same time one that protects human health and the environment as well as preserving individual choice and safeguarding the marketplace.

Health Benefits Research

Health Benefits Research