Vienna, Va. – The apple industry's national trade association applauded today's Senate approval of an amendment to its fiscal year 2003 Interior appropriations bill that is intended to deliver $5.9 billion in disaster assistance to farmers. The measure passed by a vote of 79 to 16.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Apple Association (USApple), which had been lobbying influential congressional delegates in recent weeks to gain disaster assistance for apple growers, applauded the Senate's move. Several major U.S. apple-growing areas suffered severe weather-related losses this year, including widespread frost damage in New York's Hudson Valley, and in Michigan.

"USApple is fighting for access to disaster aid to help apple growers who have been victimized by Mother Nature," said USApple Vice President James R. "Jim" Cranney, Jr. "Our industry appreciates the support of our Senate allies whose action today will probably save some family farms in Idaho, Michigan, New York and Washington."

The House of Representative's Interior appropriations bill, approved by that chamber July 17, did not include a disaster assistance package. A yet-to-be-appointed conference committee of Senate and House members will negotiate on this and any other differences between the two chambers' bills in the weeks ahead, which could result in changes to the final measure.

"We'll look forward to educating conferees on the need for apple growers to have access to this assistance," said USApple's Cranney.

The Senate bill provides disaster assistance for both 2001 and 2002 losses. Apple growers and other farmers would be eligible to participate if their losses exceed 35 percent of an average crop, and they would receive 60 percent of the market value of losses exceeding the first 35 percent. Payments are limited to $80,000 per person, and no one with an annual gross income of $2.5 million or more in the previous tax year is eligible.

Note: Other news from the U.S. Apple Association (USApple) can be viewed via the Media section of USApple's newly-redesigned Web site, at http://www.usapple.org.

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.