Jun 21, 2012

Senate passes farm bill

The U.S. Senate approved the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012 June 21, with a vote of 64-35. The passage comes after a two-day consideration of more than 70 amendments, pared down from nearly 300 that were submitted, according to United Fresh Produce Association.

The bill addresses many priorities critical to United Fresh members, including programs supporting essential research, market promotion and nutrition, and continues the support of specialty crops that was established in the 2008 bill, according to United Fresh.

The bill maintains 2008 levels of funding for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP), a victory for the more than 3 million school children who receive a fresh fruit or vegetable snack from the program each day. United helped to spearhead creation of FFVP as an effective way to improve child nutrition, promote consumption of fruits and vegetables and encourage long-term healthy eating habits, according to United Fresh.