Washington, D.C. — Following U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff’s push, Georgia farmers will now have a seat at the table to provide vital input on policies to promote the competitiveness of seasonal and perishable crop producers.
Last month, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) established a Seasonal and Perishable Agricultural Products Advisory Committee following Sen. Ossoff’s bipartisan, bicameral push to ensure Georgia farmers are at the table to address unfair trade practices by Mexican importers.
The Committee, which will include Chris Butts, Executive Vice President of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, and Brad Moorer, President and CEO of MBG Marketing as representatives of Georgia’s agricultural industry, will offer expertise in areas such as growing and selling seasonal and perishable agricultural products and the needs and market dynamics affecting producers of seasonal and perishable agricultural products in the Southeastern United States.
“I’m pleased to see the Biden Administration heed our bipartisan calls to help Southeastern seasonal producers affected by unfair trade practices. This new Committee will ensure Georgia’s farmers and growers have an important seat at the table to advise the Administration and help Georgia agricultural industry continue to grow,” Sen. Ossoff said.
Last year, Sens. Ossoff and Marco Rubio (R-FL) led a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers urging U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to follow through on a promise by the Biden Administration to help Southeastern seasonal producers affected by unfair trade practices.
Sen. Ossoff continues leading the charge to support Georgia’s farmers and strengthen the state’s agricultural industry.
In April, Sen. Ossoff began working to bring Republicans and Democrats together to pass the bipartisan Specialty CROP Act of 2023, legislation he co-sponsored to support Georgia’s farmers and level the playing field to boost exports.
In October, Sens. Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock urged the Biden Administration to support Georgia’s agricultural industry after this year’s natural disasters.
In September, Sen. Ossoff launched a push to bring Republicans and Democrats together to pass a new bipartisan bill aimed at expanding support for the poultry industry during avian influenza outbreaks.
Last year, following Sen. Ossoff’s push, the Republic of India announced a major 70% cut to tariffs on U.S. pecan exports, a big win for Georgia farmers.
###
