From trade and the Farm Bill to labor and food safety, several major policy issues facing specialty crop growers could see important developments in Washington over the coming months.
Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association President Mike Joyner joined AgNet Media for an in-depth conversation about those issues and what they could mean for growers in Florida and across the nation’s specialty crop industry.
Joyner, who also serves as co-chair of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, said one of the industry’s most pressing concerns is the ongoing USMCA process and the impact of Mexican produce imports on Southeast growers.
“I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that the survival of the Southeast specialty crop industry is at stake,” Joyner said.
Joyner discussed efforts to address seasonal import pressure through potential tariff-rate quotas on some of Florida’s most vulnerable commodities. He also pointed to the attention U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has given the issue as an encouraging development.
The conversation also covered the push for a new Farm Bill and several priorities being advanced by the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, a coalition representing more than 200 specialty crop organizations. Those priorities include stronger crop insurance options, a more consistent disaster assistance framework, research funding and greater investment in automation and mechanization.
Despite the latest setback in the Senate Agriculture Committee, Joyner remains optimistic that lawmakers could still complete a Farm Bill before the end of the year.
Joyner also discussed the Securing America’s Workforce Act and the need to provide growers with a more reliable and predictable agricultural workforce system, as well as growing food safety concerns and the importance of maintaining consumer confidence in fresh produce.
With consequential decisions ahead on several fronts, the interview offers an inside look at the federal policy discussions that could shape the future of specialty crop production.
Listen to the full conversation with Mike Joyner below.