June 3, 2022
In This Issue:
  • Vilsack Announces USDA Initiative to Transform Food Systems
  • NPC and Over 40 Associations Support Funding to Maintain Pesticide Availability
  • Amber Leigh to Perform at NPC Summer Meeting
  • Potato LEAF Scholarship Deadline Approaches - Apply Today!
  • Thank You to the 2022 NPC Grower Supporters!
Vilsack Announces USDA Initiative to Transform Food Systems

On Wednesday at Georgetown University, Secretary Vilsack announced a series of programs from USDA to address supply chain disruptions and transform U.S. food systems. USDA stated that its framework “seeks to increase the productivity of the food supply chain and transform the food system to be fairer, more competitive, and more resilient.” Among the numerous programs and proposals, the following recommendations were announced this week:

Up to $600 million in financial assistance to support food supply chain infrastructure aimed at independently owned and available infrastructure such as cold storage, refrigerated trucks, and processing facilities are in short supply but essential to creating a more resilient food system. USDA will make investments to address the limited processing, distribution, storage, and aggregation capacity for a variety of food sectors, including high equipment costs, lack of competition, and limited supply chain and value chain coordination. 

Additional $40 million in the GusNIP Produce Prescriptions Program. This program funds projects that demonstrate and evaluate the impacts of fresh produce prescriptions to increase fresh fruit and vegetable consumption, improve health, and reduce food insecurity. Since launching this program following the passage of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, demand has increased by 30 percent each year.

Up to $90 million to prevent and reduce food loss and waste. USDA will invest an additional $30 million in the Community Compost and Food Waste Reduction Program and will fund a feasibility study and corresponding actions that will support a National Food Loss and Waste Strategy. 

The announcement was met with support and concern from Capitol Hill. Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan) said “I’m pleased Secretary Vilsack is implementing my supply chain provisions to lower costs, and build a food systems that is fairer for consumers and better for the man and women who power our food economy.” 

However, AgriPulse reported that “the top Republicans on the House and Senate Ag committees laid into Vilsack’s plan in separate statements Wednesday afternoon.
"Increasing spending on organic initiatives and rooftop gardens while placing misguided blame on corporations and agribusinesses will not increase domestic food production,” said Pennsylvania Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson.

His counterpart on the Senate Ag Committee, John Boozman of Arkansas, said the plan represented “misplaced priorities and wishful thinking.” “Much of this ‘framework’ is merely a repackaging of previously announced initiatives that will receive one-time funding provided for COVID relief,” Boozman said.

Click here for a list of USDA’s new investments across the supply chain as a part of this framework.
NPC and Over 40 Associations Support Funding to Maintain Pesticide Availability

This week NPC joined a coalition of agriculture and other associations on a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees supporting funding for various agencies in the federal government with responsibility for pesticide registration, review and regulations. Without this funding, the timely processes that are required to ensure that vital pesticides remain available would stall or end completely. Additionally, the ability for new products to be approved would be threatened along with necessary consultations between EPA and “the Services” (National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) on Endangered Species Act regulation.

The overall funding request in the letter is $163 million as part of the FY 2023 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. This appropriations bill is likely to be folded into a larger Omnibus Bill toward the end of the fiscal year or beyond.
Amber Leigh to Perform at NPC Summer Meeting

As part of an outstanding program that has come together for the NPC Summer Meeting in Nashville, Amber Leigh will be performing for the attendees. Amber is an Irish-bred, fiddle playing, singer/songwriter who has spent every chapter of her life on stage.

You might recognize her from the 2012 Summer Meeting in Bar Harbor when she and her dad were performing nightly at Paddy's Irish Pub.  

Amber Leigh has already released nine full length albums, all to critical acclaim. Her unique, "Country with a touch of Celtic flair”, sound has led to a strong fan base that has seen her share the stage with country music's finest including Keith Urban, Kelsea Ballerini, Lady Antebellum among others.
Potato LEAF Scholarship Deadline Approaches - Apply Today!

The Potato Leadership, Education and Advancement Foundation (Potato LEAF) will award a $10,000 academic scholarship to one graduate-level student conducting research for the benefit of the potato industry. The winner is selected based on a number of criteria, including academic achievement, leadership abilities, potato-related areas of graduate study, benefit to the U.S. potato industry/commercial value, extracurricular activities, and grades.

All applications and supplemental materials should be submitted no later than June 24, 2022. All components of the scholarship application should be uploaded as one file to this Google Form
Thank You to the 2022 NPC Grower Supporters!

As NPC continues to navigate returning to normal after the pandemic, we want to recognize the 383 growers and industry partners who joined our 2022 Grower Supporter Campaign. Due to your continued support of this organization, we are able to continue our efforts to amplify the voice of the U.S. potato industry on Capitol Hill and throughout Washington, D.C.

To see the full list of Grower Supports, or to learn more about the campaign, please visit our website.
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