Bid for bucks

One Senate staffer told me this morning that there is still uncertainty about whether the Senate version of the specialty crop bill will be introduced this week. The Democratic side of the aisle is still making tweaks to the bill, the staffer said. The Senate is on recess next week, but it is unknown if the bill will dropped before the recess.

The House version of the specialty crop bill - the EAT Healthy America Act, if you will - has this ambitious language for funding for promotion dollars for fruits and vegetables in the U.S. Observe that national, state and regional trade associations would be eligible for funds. Beyond that, even businesses could use promotion funds on a matching basis. To receive $25 million yearly for generic promotion of fruits and vegetables is a reach, but perhaps the industry and its Congressional allies can get a foot in the door and build from there.



SEC. 503. FRUIT AND VEGETABLE NUTRITION PROMOTION PROGRAM.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service, shall establish and carry out a program to provide assistance to eligible trade organizations described in subsection (c) in support of efforts to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables in the United States to meet Federal health guidelines.
(b) REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION.—To be eligible for assistance under this section, an eligible trade organization shall—
(1) submit to the Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service a plan, meeting such guidelines as the Administrator may establish, to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables in the United States; and
(2) meet any other requirements established by the Administrator.
(c) ELIGIBLE TRADE ORGANIZATIONS.—An eligible
trade organization referred to in subsection (a) means any
of the following:
(1) A non-profit fruit and vegetable trade organization in the United States;
(2) A non-profit State or regional fruit and vegetable organization.
(3) A fruit and vegetable agricultural cooperative in the United States.
(4) A commodity board or commission in the
United States.
(5) A business engaged in the fruit and vegetable industry in the United States.

(d) MATCHING FUNDS.—Assistance provided under
this section shall not exceed—
(1) in the case of an entity referred to in paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (c), 50 percent of the cost of the plan submitted by the entity under subsection (b) and approved by the Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service; and (2) in the case of a business referred to in paragraph (5) of such subsection, 50 percent of the cost of the plan submitted by the business under subsection (b) and approved by the Administrator. (e) FUNDING.—The Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service shall use the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out this section in the following amounts:
(1) $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 and 2009.
(2) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.
(3) $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
(4) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.