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USDA should seek to develop a preemptive program for the identification of invasive 

pests and diseases that can have potential total destruction effects on current agricultural 

commodities.

Proposed AMS Action

AMS will share the Committee’s recommendation with the Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory 

Programs (MRP) to underscore industry support for accelerated pest and disease 

detection, coordinated testing and research, and timely identification of all potential 

funding sources in order to expedite USDA action against invasive pests and diseases.

3. Recommendation 

USDA should assign one (1) intra-agency function to be the coordinating entity to 

manage the total process for identified pest and disease issue(s), with supporting efforts 

from all other USDA functions as appropriate. 

Proposed AMS Action

AMS will forward the Committee’s recommendation to APHIS for review and 

consideration. Based on a teleconference call with Committee members, APHIS has 

already acknowledged the need to review and develop improved communications and 

coordination with other agencies involved in pest detection and disease issues, along with 

acquiring the necessary funding for implementation. 

Committee Statement 2 

The Committee commends and appreciates USDA’s investments in developing public cultivars 

of fruits and vegetables, including regionally-adapted ones. In light of the critical importance of 

this research to the success fruit and vegetable growers, and to the long-term survival of our 

industry, it is clear that these federal investments must be increased, in terms of both funding for 

research, and restoring the human capital necessary for successful plant breeding programs. 

4. Recommendation 

USDA should increase to 30 percent the allocation of Specialty Crop Research Initiative 

(SCRI), Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) and Community 

Food Security grant funding for public plant variety development, and ensure that at least 

half of such funds are targeted for development of regionally-adapted varieties. 

Proposed AMS Action

AMS will work with its own Grants Division and key staff at USDA’s National Institute 

for Agriculture (NIFA) regarding funding opportunities for public plant variety 

development and how to promote awareness of these funds. 

5. Recommendation 

USDA should lead the development and support the implementation of a comprehensive 

national plan to restore funding and institutional capacity for the development of public 

plant varieties. A goal of this plan should be to increase the number of public cultivar 

developers in each of the seven US climatic regions. The plan should also address: the 
negative impacts of consolidation and concentration in the ownership of seeds by 

encouraging more independent regional seed companies; increasing farmer and 

researcher access to innovation in the development of elite cultivars; the negative impacts 

of utility patents and restrictive licenses; development of new, innovative partnerships 

and models to address regionalized and participatory approaches to public cultivar 

development; strengthening and democratizing public germplasm collection systems; and 

building greater public awareness of the importance of public cultivar development. 

Proposed AMS Action

AMS will work with the Agricultural Research Service and the National Institute of Food 

and Agriculture to contact land grant universities and other agricultural research 

universities. Per the Committee’s recommendation, AMS will communicate with these 

institutions about the importance of restoring funding to develop public plant varieties. 

AGRICULTURAL LABOR WORKING GROUP

6. Recommendation 

The passage of a National Immigration Reform program is of critical importance. Until 

such reform is implemented, the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee 

supports and requests that USDA become more involved in the H2-A guest worker 

program and become the direct advocate for the program to the US Agricultural industry. 

Proposed AMS Action

AMS will ensure that USDA’s Office of Congressional Affairs is aware of the 

Committee’s position. AMS will also report back to the Committee about USDA’s 

immigration and agricultural labor reform position, as well as efforts to communicate and 

coordinate with the Department of Labor on agriculture labor issues. 

EDUCATION AND BRANDING WORKING GROUP 

Committee Statement 1

The Committee applauds the thorough and varied educational opportunities, resource materials, 

and grants available for encouraging children to eat fruits and vegetables, such as: 

 USDA Farm to School Website: http://www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/farm-school 

 USDA Farm to School Census: http://www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/census#/ 

 USDA Farm to School Planning Toolkit: 

http://www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/census#/toolkit 

 USDA Farm to School Grant Program: 

http://www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/farm-school-grant-program 

 Fact sheets: http://www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/fact-sheets 

 Procure local foods: http://www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/procuring-local-foods 

 Healthy Habits Take Root Videos and Webinars: 

http://www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/videos-and-webinars 
 Smarter Lunchrooms: http://smarterlunchrooms.org/ 

 National Farm to School Network: http://www.farmtoschool.org/ 

 Kids Gardening: http://www.kidsgardening.org/ 

7. Recommendation 

The Committee respectfully recommends efforts be undertaken to make these resources 

more widely known by the public to increase use and thus consumption of fruits and 

vegetables by youth. 

Proposed AMS Action

AMS will share this recommendation with other USDA agencies to help determine 

potential promotional efforts and identify partners that can help facilitate these efforts, 

including the Food and Drug Administration, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, 

USDA’s Farm to School Program, AMS’s Transportation and Marketing Program, and 

AMS’s Commodity Procurement Division. AMS will also engage with nongovernmental organizations such as the Produce for Better Health Foundation, the 

Produce Marketing Association (whose President is a Committee member), the United 

Fresh Produce Association, specialty crops promotion and research programs, marketing 

order and agreement programs, and others. 

Committee Statement 2

The U.S. consumer is becoming more conscious, more educated and more concerned over the 

food they are eating. It is important for them to be presented with accurate and transparent 

labeling so they can make informed purchase decisions. Food label standards for genetically 

engineered products must be created on a uniform, national basis. It is unrealistic for food 

manufacturers to package and label products based upon on state-by-state regulations. 

8. Recommendation 

The Committee recommends the prompt creation of a uniform, national labeling standard 

for genetically engineered products. Further, the Committee strongly believes that the 

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the most appropriate agency to oversee and 

develop the national labeling standard. 

Proposed AMS Action

AMS will track and monitor the recently-introduced bill regarding national voluntary 

labeling of non-GMO products. Through its audit verification programs, AMS will also 

offer options to producers and companies for voluntary labeling of their products to 

reflect the absence of genetically engineered ingredients. 

Committee Statement 3

Industry celebrated the science-based dietary guidance from USDA and FDA. We appreciate that 

the federal feeding programs reflect that guidance. It is especially important that children learn to 

eat healthily and that they have access to healthy foods. We appreciate and support Secretary 

Vilsacks’ steadfast commitment to our children’s health through our new school breakfast and 

lunch standards. 
9. Recommendation 

 Maintain the new standards. 

 Continue to educate stakeholders (school food authorities) on the importance of the 

standards to children’s health and learning. 

 Increase fruit and vegetable reimbursements to ensure school food authorities can 

afford to meet the federal fruit and vegetable requirements. 

 We urge the Secretary to work more closely with the State Departments of 

Agriculture on this issue. 

 USDA should support opportunities to attract, educate and retain conventional and 

organic, and local and national farmers of all sizes and types.

 The USDA should support the increased distribution of fruits and vegetables into 

underserved communities.

Proposed AMS Action 

AMS will coordinate internally – with its Commodity Procurement Division and 

Transporting and Marketing Program – and across USDA – with USDA’s Farm to 

School Program, Food and Nutrition Service, Know Your Farmer Know Your Food 

Initiative, and Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion – to determine how USDA can 

further support healthy eating education and awareness. AMS will also encourage MRP 

and the Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Mission Area to engage with the 

National Association of State Departments of Agriculture in order to increase outreach to 

State Departments of Agriculture and Education.