United leaders share wish list with USDA secretary
United leaders share wish list with USDA secretary
WASHINGTON - Coming from Nebraska, USDA Secretary Mike Johanns admitted he was not up to speed with fresh fruit and vegetable industry issues at a March 29 meeting with leaders of the United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association.
But United President Tom Stenzel said that the new secretary was very supportive, asked many questions and expressed interest in touring produce operations to become more familiar with an industry that will be demanding more attention from USDA in the upcoming farm bill debate.
Mr. Stenzel joined top United officials " Mike Wootton, vice president of corporate relations at Sunkist Growers Inc.; Larry Kern, chairman and CEO of Ready Pac Produce; and Nick Tompkins, president and CEO of Apio Inc. " to discuss critical issues as Secretary Johanns settles into his new post. There were three reasons for the meeting.
First, United wanted to provide him with some background on the fruit and vegetable industry and establish a relationship with the former Nebraska governor.
Second, United shared positions on the country-of-origin labeling debate and the need for increased funding for the fruit and vegetable snack program in schools and the yet-to-be-financed Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act.
Third, the lobbying group made it clear that the fruit and vegetable industry wants a larger role in helping to write the 2007 farm bill, which is already being discussed on Capitol Hill. United is not looking for direct subsidies for produce, said Mr. Stenzel, but rather is urging USDA to spend more research and development dollars on new value-added products.
There is little doubt that the industry lost a fruit and vegetable expert when USDA Secretary Ann Veneman resigned last year. Because of her background, though, Secretary Veneman may have had to bend over backward not to grant special favors to the industry, said Mr. Stenzel. The new secretary of agriculture will not face those same pressures.
But United President Tom Stenzel said that the new secretary was very supportive, asked many questions and expressed interest in touring produce operations to become more familiar with an industry that will be demanding more attention from USDA in the upcoming farm bill debate.
Mr. Stenzel joined top United officials " Mike Wootton, vice president of corporate relations at Sunkist Growers Inc.; Larry Kern, chairman and CEO of Ready Pac Produce; and Nick Tompkins, president and CEO of Apio Inc. " to discuss critical issues as Secretary Johanns settles into his new post. There were three reasons for the meeting.
First, United wanted to provide him with some background on the fruit and vegetable industry and establish a relationship with the former Nebraska governor.
Second, United shared positions on the country-of-origin labeling debate and the need for increased funding for the fruit and vegetable snack program in schools and the yet-to-be-financed Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act.
Third, the lobbying group made it clear that the fruit and vegetable industry wants a larger role in helping to write the 2007 farm bill, which is already being discussed on Capitol Hill. United is not looking for direct subsidies for produce, said Mr. Stenzel, but rather is urging USDA to spend more research and development dollars on new value-added products.
There is little doubt that the industry lost a fruit and vegetable expert when USDA Secretary Ann Veneman resigned last year. Because of her background, though, Secretary Veneman may have had to bend over backward not to grant special favors to the industry, said Mr. Stenzel. The new secretary of agriculture will not face those same pressures.
