October 2020 - 15

situation, what is the expectation
about what we can legally and ethically
do? U.S. consumers are affluent and
everybody wants to be in our market. "
Documentation essential
Perdue pointed to recent hearings and
determinations on the fresh fruit orders
(see accompanying story), but called the
problem complex and complicated.
" It's frustrating anytime something
Huizenga said the program was
like this happens, " Gavin said. " It
increases costs and makes us less
competitive. Consumers don't want us
to have to use any more chemicals. "
Food Box program a hit
Victory complimented Perdue for the
success of the Farm to Families Food Box
program, which he called a successful
effort for growers and consumers.
Through this program, farmers sell
food previously destined for restaurants
to distributors, who partner with the
USDA to package family-size boxes
of produce, dairy, and meat products.
The boxes are then transported to food
banks, community- and faith-based
organizations, and other nonprofits for
Workers pack boxes with blueberries at
Crossroads Farms.
distribution to Americans in need.
" It gives producers a market for
produce that we are sometimes struggling
to sell during this difficult time, and it
provides fresh, healthy food straight to a
consumer who is going to feed their family
immediately with good, local produce, "
Victory said. " It adds to the health of our
people and our communities. "
assembled in just over three weeks
without opposition, receiving
extensive bipartisan backing. He said
a normal government-sponsored food
procurement program can take from
12-24 months to establish.
Karen Dietrich, an apple grower
from west Michigan's Fruit Ridge, said
the $4 billion program has worked
well for farms. She's also seen the
benefit to consumers while serving as a
distribution volunteer.
" Yes, we are selling at a lower price,
but we are still selling, " she said. " And
to be a part of the distribution and see
people put the food in their trunks and
know how much it means ... it is one
more part of why we farm. " FGN
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue
navigates a blueberry harvester in a field at
Crossroads Farm as owner Luke DeHaan
and U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga look on.
" It is frustrating as a grower to see
our markets overrun by a cheaper
product, " Perdue said. " We know that
much of that (lower cost) is from
(lower) labor costs in products we buy
from Mexico. "
Perdue encouraged trade
associations, such as the USHBC
and the North American Blueberry
Council, to begin building evidence
of anti-dumping violations and
countervailing duties - an import tax
imposed on certain goods in order to
prevent dumping or to counter export
subsidies - but said the complicated
task is subject to an international court.
Grown in the U.S.A.
HELPING GROWERS GROW™ | WENATCHEE, WASHINGTON
From left, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny
Perdue, senior advisor Kristi Boswell
and farm owner Luke DeHaan discuss
production practices at Crossroads Farms.
Royal Red Honeycrisp®
EverCrisp®
Gale Gala®
" We need proof of dumping, " he said.
" We need evidence in every crop. These
are association-type of issues. We don't
expect the individual grower to do it. "
Coopersville fruit and vegetable
grower Dave Gavin suggested a labeling
system to identify U.S.-grown produce.
Perdue pointed out that a previous
country of origin labeling initiative
by cattle producers was shot down as
illegal by the World Trade Organization.
" For every problem, there seems to
be a simple solution, " Perdue says. " And
that solution is usually wrong, " he said.
Invasive species control
Gavin was also concerned with
invasive species' impacts on Michigan's
specialty crop industry. Pests such as
the spotted wing drosophila (a fruit
fly) escape detection during border
inspections, leaving growers with costly
pest control challenges.
He said there are few tools available
for this late-season pest and the ones
available are expensive pesticides.
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October 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of October 2020
