Luján, Schiff, Slotkin, Warnock Urge Agriculture Committee Leadership to Support Specialty Crop Farmers in Farm Bill

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Food and Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organics, and Research, and U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), all members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, pushed, in a letter, for provisions in the upcoming Farm Bill that empower specialty crop farmers.

The Senators wrote to Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-Ark.) and Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), outlining the importance of working to produce a Farm Bill that includes improvements to economic assistance for specialty crop growers, funding for healthy food programs, and increased flexibilities for growers' access to crop insurance.

"While providing states with relief for the SNAP cost-shift remains a top priority, we simultaneously remain committed to ensuring the success of specialty crop growers in our states and throughout the nation," wrote the Senators.

"Inclusion of these policy proposals in the Farm Bill will better ensure that specialty crop producers have the tools they need to succeed and that American and international consumers have easy, affordable access to healthy fruits, vegetables, and nuts," the Senators continued.

In June, Senator Luján 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 full text of the letter can be found here and below:

Dear Chairman Boozman and Ranking Member Klobuchar:

As U.S. Senators serving on the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, we appreciate your collaboration as we work towards a bipartisan Farm Bill.

While providing states with relief for the SNAP cost-shift remains a top priority, we simultaneously remain committed to ensuring the success of specialty crop growers in our states and throughout the nation. We are grateful for several provisions already included in the Agricultural Act of 2026 released on June 23, 2026, and request that any final Farm Bill address the following policies as well:

1. Add language to section 1304 (Specialty crop emergency assistance framework) that requires USDA to use the established framework. Such language would ensure that economic assistance is provided to producers easily and expeditiously.
2. Increase funding for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) and the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP). Additional funding for these programs would ensure that children and low-income families have access to healthy fruits and vegetables.
3. Increase flexibility and creativity for specialty crops in 508(h) and other crop insurance development authorities. These flexibilities would ensure that specialty crop growers, who largely operate without insurance, can more easily access an affordable and effective safety net.
4. Require the Secretary to use the statutory definition of specialty crops from the 2004 Specialty Crop Competitiveness Act for USDA programs and services, including for the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) program and crop insurance. Clarifying the definition would ensure that USDA resources dedicated to specialty crops are not stretched thinner than they already are.

Inclusion of these policy proposals in the Farm Bill will better ensure that specialty crop producers have the tools they need to succeed and that American and international consumers have easy, affordable access to healthy fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Thank you for your consideration.

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