Supports America's Specialty Crop Growers Who Produce Trademark Crops from Pecans to Chile

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Food and Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organics, and Research, Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and John Fetterman (D-Pa.) introduced the Cultivating Horticultural Innovation in Local Economies (CHILE) Act, legislation to strengthen federal support for specialty crop growers facing economic losses and market disruptions.

The CHILE Act builds upon language included in the House-passed Farm Bill that creates a Specialty Crop Emergency Assistance Framework. The legislation would ensure the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) uses that framework when providing direct assistance to specialty crop growers. Currently, specialty crop growers generally do not have a standardized, predictable disaster assistance framework comparable to the support available to other agricultural producers. The CHILE Act would help ensure a consistent process for providing emergency assistance to specialty crop growers during times of economic hardship and uncertainty.

"Specialty crop growers are critical to New Mexico's agricultural economy and to feeding communities across the nation," said Senator Luján. "When disasters, market disruptions, and other challenges threaten their livelihoods, growers deserve a reliable process for getting the emergency assistance they need. My CHILE Act strengthens support for specialty crop producers by ensuring USDA has and uses a reliable framework to provide timely assistance when specialty crop growers need it most."

Specifically, the CHILE Act would:

• Require USDA to use the Specialty Crop Emergency Assistance Framework when providing direct assistance to specialty crop growers;
• Clarify that specialty crops include fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and nursery crops, including floriculture; and
• Provide $5 billion in direct assistance to specialty crop producers for fiscal year 2027.

"No one does specialty crops like Michigan. We grow everything from cherries, to asparagus, to blueberries, and all are enduring incredible instability," said Senator Slotkin. "The CHILE Act is built around their unique needs and provides billions in direct assistance to help ensure Michigan remains one of the most agriculturally diverse states. Making the federal government work for specialty crop producers is a priority, and this bill is a good step in the right direction."

"Anyone who has ever enjoyed Georgia peaches, blueberries, pecans, or Vidalia onions knows that Georgia's specialty crop producers are so important to our state's agricultural economy and our culture," said Senator Reverend Warnock. "The CHILE Act would provide specialty crop producers expanded access to USDA support should disaster strike. I'm proud to work with my colleagues on this legislation."

"Specialty crop farmers are being squeezed from every direction. President Trump canceled the contracts that had local farmers supply food to schools and food banks, while his reckless tariff and trade policies have driven up costs. Despite all of this, the USDA's 'Farmer Bridge Assistance Program' shortchanged specialty crop farmers on their fair share of support and saddled them with a burdensome application process that is ill-suited to how specialty crop farms operate. We need real investment in specialty crop farms, designed to meet farmer needs," said Senator Booker.

"Colorado specialty crop farmers deserve a reliable and predictable disaster assistance framework, just like other agricultural producers," said Senator Bennet. "Too often, disasters and market disruptions leave specialty crop growers facing significant economic uncertainty. The CHILE Act will help ensure growers have access to the support they need during challenging times, helping family farms remain viable and strengthening Colorado's agricultural economy."

"Pennsylvania farmers help put food on our tables, create local jobs, and keep our agricultural economy moving. Having a framework that allows them to get the direct assistance they need is just one step in safeguarding farmers in times of economic loss," said Senator Fetterman. "I'm proud to support this legislation that would strengthen federal support allowing these specialty crop farmers to have the funding and tools they need to help succeed today and everyday."

"The New Mexico Chile Association supports Senator Ben Ray Luján's CHILE Act of 2026 and appreciates his continued willingness to engage directly with New Mexico producers on the challenges facing specialty crop agriculture. We appreciate Senator Luján's leadership on this issue and his commitment to ensuring that New Mexico agriculture remains viable for future generations of growers," said Ben Etcheverry, New Mexico Chile Association.

The CHILE Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.).

The CHILE Act is supported by the New Mexico Chile Association and Western Growers Association.

Full bill text is available here.

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