By Emma Sauls
USDA announced last week that agricultural imports are expected to reach a record $212 billion in FY2025. Fueled in part by growing imports of fruits and vegetables, USDA now forecasts an agricultural trade deficit of over $30 billion for the year. The widening trade gap demonstrates a growing reliance on other countries for our fresh produce.
In August, Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff and Representative Sanford Bishop introduced the Protecting our Produce Act, a bicameral bill would establish a five-year pilot program to provide support for certain specialty crop producers — blueberries, squash, bell pepper, cucumber, or asparagus — when a crop’s national average market price (effective price) falls below its five-year average price (reference price), if the difference is caused by imports.
“GFVGA will be in Washington the next two weeks to meet with policy makers and to communicate the need for trade policy that can help level the playing field for Georgia Growers. The growing trade deficit demonstrates the need for a program that supports domestic producers before it’s too late and we become reliant on other countries for our fresh fruits and vegetables” said Chris Butts, GFVGA Executive V.P.
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