Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Apple Association (USApple) applauds the introduction of the "Specialty Crops Competition Act of 2007." This bipartisan bill recognizes the challenges and opportunities facing U.S. apple growers in today's global market. Strong marketing, research, nutrition, and trade programs in the bill would help boost competitiveness and profitability and should be given serious consideration in the 2007 Farm Bill.

"Increased competition at home and abroad along with production challenges are driving the need for specialty crop provisions in the 2007 Farm Bill," explained USApple Chairman Kelly Henggeler, an apple grower and packer form Fruitland, ID. "U.S. apple growers support the bill's expanded programs to grow sales, meet import challenges, and address pest, labor and other production issues so consumers can enjoy healthful quality U.S. apples and apple products. Without appropriate federal assistance, U.S. growers will lose ground to foreign competition and be forced out of business."

The Specialty Crops Competition Act of 2007 reflects the industry's goals for the upcoming Farm Bill. "We are not asking the government for direct handouts or subsidies," said Henggeler. "We are looking to this legislation for an investment in the future of specialty crops. We are asking for programs that help us grow demand for our products and build the long-term competitiveness of our industry."

There are several key components of the legislation that are particularly important to the apple industry. One of the components of the legislation is expansion of the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program with mandatory federal funding. Flexibility is a key feature that makes the block grant program so important for specialty crops. The funds are administered by state departments of agriculture as grants for specific state specialty crops, and as such, can be tailored to meet the needs of each individual state, be it marketing, research or trade programs.

The legislation also recognizes the vital role that a strong specialty crop industry plays in the health of our economy and the health and well being of our citizens. Agriculture policy and federal nutrition programs should better reflect the Dietary Guidelines for Americans to give all Americans an abundant and safe food supply that is also nutritious. This legislation meets this goal by increasing the purchases of fruits and vegetables for the federal feeding programs and the Fruit and Vegetable Snack program.

The 2007 Farm Bill presents an opportunity to write a new chapter of American agriculture policy. A Farm Bill that treats all aspects of American agriculture equitably means a farm policy that touches all Americans — consumers, growers and others. According to USDA, specialty crops represent more than $50 billion in farm-gate value and account for than 45% of farm-gate crop value. However, this sector of agriculture has been under-served by previous farm legislation. The Specialty Crops Competition Act of 2007 lays the groundwork for change in the coming legislation.

The introduction of this legislation follows closely on the heels of the introduction of the Equitable Agriculture Today for a Healthy America Act (the EAT Healthy America ACT) in the House of Representatives last month.

Note: The text of this release can be downloaded from the News Releases section of USApple's Media Web site, at http://www.usapple.org/media/newsreleases/index.shtml. The U.S. Apple Association (USApple) is the national trade association representing all segments of the apple industry. Members include 36 state and regional apple associations representing the 7,500 apple growers throughout the country, as well as more than 300 individual firms involved in the apple business. USApple'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.