News Release

Potato Growers Of Idaho Supports Introduction Of Eat Healthy America Act

Act enhances competitiveness and assistance for potato growers in 2007 Farm Bill

BLACKFOOT, Idaho — The Potato Growers of Idaho (PGI) is endorsing the Equitable Agriculture Today for a Healthy America Act (EAT Healthy America Act) as a proactive step for ensuring that specialty crop policy priorities are included in the 2007 Farm Bill.

As a member of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA), a national coalition of more than 90 specialty crop grower organizations, PGI is dedicated to ensuring that the 2007 Farm Bill includes policy provisions that enhance the competitiveness of the U.S. specialty crop industry and increase consumption of the over 300 specialty crops grown in the United States.

“This bill is a comprehensive farm bill package providing the necessary framework to enhance the competitiveness of the specialty crop industry,” said PGI executive director Keith Esplin. “As the debate on the 2007 Farm Bill takes shape we will continue to work with members of Congress and other state and national potato organizations to ensure that the components of this legislation become a part of U.S. farm policy.”

“As specialty crop producers, potato growers do not favor a direct payment program for themselves; however, we do feel it is critical and only fair that our needs receive the same attention as those of producers that have been the focus of previous farm programs. By establishing farm bill programs that address the priorities of both specialty crops and program crops, we believe our farm policy will be more equitable for all of agriculture,” added PGI president Ray Hess.

The EAT Healthy Act, a comprehensive farm bill geared toward the specialty crop industry, addresses many important issues and provides a vital pathway for the specialty crop industry to be competitive in an increasingly global marketplace. Some of the major issues addressed in the EAT Healthy America Act include the following:

• Competitiveness: increases access to valuable export markets by increasing the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops program, the Market Access Program, the Block Grant Program and by raising the profile for specialty crops within USDA, USTR, and other key federal agencies.
• Nutrition: Expands the fruit and vegetable snack program in schools across the nation and develops new nutrition programs to assist producers in enhancing their markets.
• Research: Directs new investment in research priorities for specialty crops, through the National Research Initiative, Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service, and Agriculture Research Service.
• Invasive Pests and Disease: Increases research funding, enhances current resources, and authorizes and expands programs to assist in the prevention, detection, and eradication of invasive plant pests and disease.

U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, is an original co-sponsor of the bill, which was introduced March 20, 2007.