May 2020 - 33

U.S. APPLE
Growers: Include tree fruit in coronavirus aid bill
" Tree fruit growers are very large
TRACY GRONDINE
tgrondine@usapple.org
Director, Communications
USApple
In an effort led by the U.S. Apple
Association and Northwest Horticultural
Council, tree fruit organizations
are urging Secretary of Agriculture
Sonny Perdue to consider the unique
circumstances of growers during
allocation of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief
and Economic Security Act funding.
A letter sent to Secretary Perdue by a
coalition of national, state and regional
tree fruit organizations requests that
any formula created to distribute
rescue package funding be both
flexible and adaptable and recognize
unique business practices that exist in
the tree fruit sector.
" Growers of tree fruit are suffering
direct, but as yet largely unquantified,
COVID-19 losses on fruit harvested
in 2019, " the letter said. " Standard
business practices used in our industry
to pay apple and pear growers for fruit
delivered last fall and sold or stored
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users of the H-2A guestworker
program, " continues the letter. " It is
easily conceivable that a late summer
slowdown or shut down at the border
would result in millions of dollars in
tree fruit left unharvested. " As of now,
the groups note, there is no way of
calculating that impact.
Other organizations signing the
letter include: California Apple
Commission, Michigan Apple
Committee, New York Apple
Association, Pennsylvania Apple
Program, Washington Apple
Commission, Washington State Fruit
Commission and Washington State
Tree Fruit Association.
USApple also played an active role in
during the COVID-19 pandemic
timeframe will not provide loss data
until late this year. "
According the organizations,
tree fruit businesses are already
experiencing sales losses, particularly
through the school lunch program and
food service sectors, and decreased
productivity as they incorporate
COVID-19 protective measures into
H-2A housing and packing houses.
Protective measures in packinghouses
have - in addition to direct materials
costs for sanitizer, etc. - decreased
productivity and capacity by an
estimated 15 to 20%, while labor
costs have increased by a conservative
estimate of $0.50 to $1 per box of fruit.
crafting a broad policy statement and
letter to Secretary Perdue highlighting
the needs of specialty crops and the
importance of helping growers already
impacted by COVID-19.
USApple Association has created
a COVID-19 resource site (www.
usapple.org/covid-19resources) for
growers, apple businesses and the
media. The site will continually
be updated with information and
resources. FGN
Canby, Oregon
www.WillametteNurseries.com
503-263-6405 Toll Free 800-852-2018 Willamette@canby.com
FGN | MAY 2020 | 33
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http://www.usapple.org/covid-19resources http://www.WillametteNurseries.com
May 2020

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