Vienna, Va. – U.S. Apple Association (USApple) applauded Congress on passage of agricultural disaster legislation that targets equitable relief to growers who suffered crop losses in 2001 and 2002. All U.S. growers, including apple producers, who experienced a minimum of 35% crop loss for the 2001 or 2002 season due to weather-related damage will be eligible. This measure passed late last night as a part of H.J Res. 2, the FY 2003 Omnibus Appropriations bill, and is expected to be signed into law by the President shortly. The House of Representatives approved the bill, 338-83, while the Senate voted 76-20.

"We are proud to have worked hard to make this payment possible for U.S. apple growers who suffered incredible losses due to drought, frost or freeze in 2001 and 2002. In 2002 alone, U.S. apple growers suffered over $268 million in weather-related crop losses," said USApple President and CEO Nancy E. Foster. USApple advocated inclusion of apples and specialty crops in the full range of disaster benefits. "Congress recognized the distress that U.S. apple growers are experiencing and worked hard to make sure that producers were compensated for the disasters of Mother Nature. We encourage each apple grower to contact their elected representatives in Congress and thank them for their support in this measure."

Under the just-passed bill, disaster payments will be available to all apple growers who have suffered a minimum 35 percent loss in either 2001 or 2002. Payments of 65 percent of the total loss will be paid based on a percentage of the loss value. Producers who bought crop insurance, including catastrophic coverage, or did not have the option to purchase insurance will be eligible for payments at a rate of 50 percent of the applicable price which is to be determined by the USDA. All other growers will receive 45 percent of the applicable price. Apple growers who receive disaster payments will be obligated to purchase apple crop insurance above catastrophic coverage for the next two years.

The combined value of any crop that was not lost, crop insurance payments and disaster payments may not exceed 95 percent of what the value of the crop would have been without a disaster. AMLAP payments are not applicable towards the 95 percent payment limitation because these payments covered economic losses in previous years.

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Note: The text of this release can be downloaded from the News Room section of USApple's Web site, at http://www.usapple.org/media/newsreleases/index.cfm.

The U.S. Apple Association (USApple) is the national trade association representing all segments of the apple industry. Members include 40 state and regional apple associations representing the 8,000 apple growers throughout the country, as well as more than 400 individual firms involved in the apple business. The U.S. Apple Association's mission is to provide the means for all segments of the U.S. apple industry to join in appropriate collective efforts to profitably produce and market apples and apple products.