To amend the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 to provide for seasonal and perishable programs, and for other purposes.

Key Points

• This bill creates a new program to help American farmers who grow fresh fruits and vegetables. It focuses on specialty crops that spoil quickly, such as berries, tomatoes, and citrus fruits, which are often sold within eight weeks of being picked.
• Farmers would receive government payments if the market price for their crops falls below the average price from the previous three years. This help only triggers if the price drop is caused by an increase in food being imported from other countries.
• To be eligible for the money, a farmer must have an average income of less than $5 million or earn at least 75 percent of their total income from farming. This rule is meant to ensure the support goes to people who rely on agriculture for their living.
• The program is scheduled to begin in 2027. It aims to protect the domestic food supply by making sure local farmers can stay in business even when cheap imports flood the market during their specific harvest seasons.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.