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Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Producers
Provide Testimony at Senate Ag Committee Hearing.
Friday, June
23, 2006 – Albany, GA
Bill Brim of Lewis
Taylor Farms, a vegetable grower from Tifton, provided testimony today
concerning the 2007 farm bill. In Brim’s testimony he noted the rapid
growth and importance of the fruit and vegetable industry not only in
Georgia but throughout the entire nation. In 2005 specialty crop
growers produced approximately 50% of the total plant agriculture
production in the United States.
Brim stated, “Despite the impact to the U.S. economy, specialty
growers receive a very small percentage of federal resources aimed at
promoting and sustaining agricultural production. I am not here today
to tell you we want or need a new farm program for fruits and
vegetables.” He asked the committee to take a hard look at a balanced
farm bill that also included emphasis on specialty crop producers.
According to Brim consumers will also benefit by federal investment in
specialty crops by expanding access and availability to fruits and
vegetables. The 2005 Food Pyramid has a goal of doubling fruit and
vegetable consumption in the United States and the Farm Bill is a
critical component to reaching this goal.
In the testimony Brim called for more funds for ag research related to
specialty crops and nationwide expansion of the fresh fruit and
vegetable school snack program, now serving only 14 states.
Brim stated one of the most important components of the farm bill in
2007 is expansion and fully funding the State Block Grant program.
Block grants provide funds to State Departments of Agriculture to
develop programs and marketing activities that would increase
specialty crop growers’ competitiveness.
Brim is the First Vice President of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable
Growers Association, a 300 member trade association representing the
fruit and vegetable industry in Georgia. According the Charles Hall,
Executive Director of the association, “with the growth in our
industry it was very important that fruit and vegetable growers
concerns be heard at this hearing. We very much appreciate Chairman
Chambliss including a specialty crop grower on the witness list.”
Click on the links above for word documents
of the press release and Bill Brim's testimony.
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