,,iv  #aac? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,h4 ,,res4 #ahb  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(     
,,repres5tatives  ,april #be1 #bjac ,ms4
 ,del,bene 7= h]self1 ,mr4 ,v>gas1 ,mr4 
,de,fazio1 ,mr4 ,b5i%ek1 ,mr4 ,ha/+s (  
,wa%+ton1 ,mr4 ,sean ,patrick ,maloney (
 ,new ,york1 ,ms4 ,ku/]1 ,mr4 ,s*rad]1  
,mr4 ,mc,govern1 ,mr4 ,g>am5di1 & ,mr4  
,rei*]t7 submitt$ ! foll[+ resolution2  
:i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on         
,agriculture  ,,resolution  ,express+ ! 
s5se ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives t      
specialty crops are a vital "p (        
agriculture 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 t !      
,committee on ,agriculture %\ld propose 
fund+ = programs t support specialty    
crops priorities1 & t legislation %\ld  
be pass$ t includes fund+ reflect+      
specialty crops z a gr[+ & important "p 
( ,unit$ ,/ates agriculture4  ,:]eas    
specialty crops are def9$ z fruits &    
vegetables1 tree nuts1 dri$ fruits1     
horticulture1 & nurs]y crops includ+    
floriculture2 ,:]eas f>m]s 9 ! ,unit$   
,/ates gr[ m ?an #cej types ( fruit1    

vegetable1 tree nut1 fl[]1 nurs]y1 & o!r
 horticultural crops2 ,:]eas ! ye>ly    
value ( specialty crop production totals
 m ?an #ej1jjj1jjj1jjj :i* acc\nts =    
ab\t half ( all dome/ic crop value2     
,:]eas specialty crops repres5t m ?an   
#a_/c ( ! value ( ,unit$ ,/ates crop    
production 9 a giv5 ye>2 ,:]eas sales ( 
fre% & process$ fruits & vegetables     
total ne>ly #ajj1jjj1jjj1jjj annually2  
,:]eas comb9$ exports ( specialty crops 
gr[n 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates total$ ne>ly     
#ae1ijj1jjj1jjj z rec5tly z #bjaj1 :i*  
acc\nts = ab\t #ae p]c5t ( all          
agricultural exports f ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 
,:]eas !re are ab\t #bdh1jjj f>ms t gr[ 
a v>iety ( specialty crops1 & e s+le    
,/ate has at lea/ "s specialty crop     
production2 ,:]eas ov]all sp5d+ on      
specialty crops rema9s a small p]c5tage 
( all fund+ = crops1 ev5 tak+ into      
acc\nt m&atory & discretion>y fund+     
comb9$2 ,:]eas specialty crops are n    
eligible = _m ( ! traditional support   
programs t b5efit produc]s ( o!r crops2 

,:]eas programs t support specialty     
crops are g5]ally available to all      
crops1 :ile ! opposite is true (        
specific commodity crops2 ,:]eas fruits 
& vegetables l r$ raspb]ries1 almonds1  
apples1 apricots1 avocados1 bananas1    
beans1 blueb]ries1 citrus1 *]ries1      
cranb]ries1 figs1 grapes1 macadamia     
nuts1 nect>9es1 onions1 papayas1 pea*es1
 pecans1 pepp]s1 plums1 potatoes1       
pumpk9s1 sweet corn1 c]ta9 tomatoes1    
walnuts1 asp>agus1 beets1 /rawb]ries1   
broccoli1 & c>rots are j a few ( !      
hundr$s ( specialty crops gr[n 9 !      
,unit$ ,/ates2 ,:]eas specialty crops   
are a driv+ =ce 9 promot+ a heal?i]     
c\ntry & are "p ( a heal?y1 balanc$ diet
 t c help consum]s rea* recomm5d$ diet>y
 goals1 :i* call = half ( plates to be  
fruits & vegetables2 ,:]eas ! au?orities
 9 ! ,food1 ,cons]vation1 & ,en]gy ,act 
( #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #hgja et seq47 t  
expir$ on ,septemb] #cj1 #bjab1 7 ext5d$
 "u ! ,am]ican ,taxpay] ,relief ,act (  
#bjab 7,public ,law #aab-bdj7 until     

,septemb] #cj1 #bjac2 ,:]eas _m         
agriculture programs did n receive any  
additional m&atory fund+ "u t ext5sion2 
,:]eas a vital program = specialty      
crops1 ! specialty crop rese>*          
initiative1 e/abli%$ "u section #dab ( !
 ,agricultural ,rese>*1 ,ext5sion1 &    
,education ,re=m ,act ( #aiih 7#g       
,u4,s4,c4 #gfcb71 did n receive any     
additional m&atory fund+ "u t ext5sion2 
,:]eas a vital program = specialty      
crops1 ! national clean plant network1  
e/abli%$ "u section #ajbjb ( ! ,food1   
,cons]vation1 & ,en]gy ,act ( #bjjh 7#g 
,u4,s4,c4 #ggfa71 did n receive any     
additional m&atory fund+ "u t ext5sion2 
,:]eas x is p>am\nt t ! ,h\se (         
,repres5tatives passes a new #e-ye> f>m 
bill to reau?orize agriculture programs 
)\t fund+ 9 fiscal ye> #bjac1 to provide
 fund+ = su* programs 9 fiscal ye> #bjad
 & fiscal ye>s !reaft]1 & to provide    
c]ta9ty to f>m]s across ! ,unit$ ,/ates2
 ,:]eas ! numb] ( f>ms produc+ & sales (
 fruits1 b]ries1 & tree nuts 9 ! ,unit$ 

,/ates is /eadily increas+2 ,:]eas      
accord+ to ! mo/ rec5t c5sus data       
publi%$ by ! ,c5sus ( ,agriculture 9    
#bjjg1 #aab1fij f>ms produc$ fruits1    
tree nuts1 & b]ries ) a total value (   
#ah1fjj1jjj1jjj1 an increase (          
#d1ijj1jjj1jjj 9 #e ye>s2 ,:]eas !      
,c5sus %[s an increase 9 ! value ( sales
 = vegetables1 potatoes & melons f      
#ab1hjj1jjj1jjj 9 #bjjb to              
#ad1gjj1jjj1jjj 9 #bjjg1 an increase (  
#ae p]c5t2 ,:]eas nurs]y1 gre5h\se1     
floriculture1 & sod sales increas$ #ac  
p]c5t f #bjjb & #bjjg1 f #ad1gjj1jjj1jjj
 to #af1fjj1jjj1jjj2 ,:]eas x is evid5t 
t specialty crops are an increas+ly     
important "p ( agriculture 9 ! ,unit$   
,/ates2 & ,:]eas specialty crops %\ld   
get _! fair %>e ( consid]ation & fund+ 9
 agriculture g5]ally1 b especially 9 !  
f>m bill3 ,n[1 !re=e1 be x  ,t x is !   
s5se ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives t--    
7#a7 specialty crops are a vital "p (   
agriculture 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates2  7#b7 !  
,committee on ,agriculture %\ld propose 

fund+ = programs t support specialty    
crops priorities2 &  7#c7 legislation   
%\ld be pass$ t includes fund+ reflect+ 
specialty crops z a gr[+ & important "p 
( ,unit$ ,/ates agriculture4