More than 50 congressional aides and staffers learned about the importance of specialty crops, including flowers and plants.
Hosted by the House Specialty Crop Caucus, participants heard about how programs in pest and disease mitigation, production research and international marketing support the long-term health of the specialty crop industry. In addition, congressional staff members heard about the challenges the industry faces due to labor shortages.
The briefing was kicked off by the agricultural legislative assistants from the offices of the caucus co-chairmen Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.) and Jim Costa (D-Calif.).
USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) defines specialty crops as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.
Along with 120 other organizations, SAF is a member of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance which works to secure programs and policies in the Farm Bill that are critical to the specialty crop industry.
