IFPA Statement on House Advancing FY27 Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies Funding Bill

April 29, 2026

Washington, DC - The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) issued the following statement after the House Appropriations Committee voted to advance its Fiscal Year 2027 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies funding bill on April 29:

“We appreciate the Committee’s recognition of the unique challenges that specialty crop growers face today. This legislation advances key policies to maintain flexibility in the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and ensures economic assistance for specialty crops is delivered through mechanisms consistent with the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program, better reflecting the structure of our sector. The bill also encourages USDA to preserve vegetable subgroups in school meals, ensuring a wide range of vegetables stay on kids' plates. Together, these steps help reinforce the viability of the produce growers who supply our nation with healthy food.

At the same time, we are deeply concerned by proposed reductions to the fruit and vegetable benefit in the WIC program. WIC serves more than 6 million women, infants, and children at critical stages of development, and its fruit and vegetable benefit is one of the most effective, evidence-based tools to improve diet quality and long-term health outcomes.

There’s a persistent misconception that current fruit and vegetable benefit levels are excessive or temporary. The truth is these levels are based on recommendations from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine and still cover only about half of a participant’s monthly needs. The research is clear. When benefits are stronger, families buy more fruits and vegetables, increase variety, and children eat more produce. Rolling them back would undo that progress and make it harder for families to follow the Dietary Guidelines.

At a time when diet-related disease continues to strain families and the healthcare system, policy should make it easier for people to choose fresh fruits and vegetables, not harder. Reducing these benefits moves in the wrong direction and risks undermining national nutrition priorities.

We are also concerned about provisions in the bill that would expand the definition of specialty crops to include millet. Specialty crops face a distinct set of challenges due to their delicate, labor-intensive nature, and it is essential that programs intended to support these producers remain carefully targeted and appropriately tailored to our growers’ needs.

Fruits and vegetables sit at the center of better health, stronger communities, and a resilient food system. We urge policymakers to preserve and strengthen specialty crops programs and WIC while continuing to support the growers who make these foods available every day.”

IFPA Statement on House Advancing FY27 Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies Funding Bill

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