These bills would help to make sure the United States has equal footing with its trading partners. We want consumers to know when they re buying quality American vegetables, fruits and meat. It s a valuable way of promoting our home grown products here in the United States, as well as abroad. Thurman says current law requires the country of origin to be printed on produce shipping crates. But she says the crates are often in the back of the store, or in a dumpster, where customers can t see them.
Most products sold in the United States say where the item was made.
Shirts have the country of origin printed on an inside label. Even toys have the country printed on them. Yet we buy meat and produce, and serve them to our families every day, and most of us have no idea where they come from. Thurman says consumers have the right to know. The state of Florida already adopted state laws requiring country of origin labeling for fruits and vegetables.