Praise for Sen. Stabenow’s Appointment as Senate Ag. Chair

Press Release: United Fresh Supports Senator Stabenow for Senate Agriculture Committee Chairmanship Contact: Patrick Delaney, pdelaney@unitedfresh.org, 202-303-3400 ext. 417 (Also see the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition article: Specialty Crops Champion to Chair Senate Agriculture Committee) WASHINGTON, D.C. – United Fresh Produce Association President and CEO Tom Stenzel applauded the announcement today from Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan in her efforts to seek the chairmanship of the Senate Agriculture Committee. “During her time in Congress,” said Stenzel, “… Senator Stabenow has been a great friend of the produce industry and a leader on many agriculture issues. As chairman, she will also bring a strong sense of cooperation and bipartisanship to this position, a critical quality during the upcoming debate on the Farm Bill.”

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Senator Stabenow, who authored the Horticulture title of the 2008 Farm Bill, has spent a lifetime working for agriculture in the Michigan state legislature, the U.S. House of Representatives and now as the United States Senator from Michigan since 2000. Not only has she worked for the fruit and vegetable growers in her own state, she has worked on many other important agriculture commodity issues including, dairy, conservation, rural development and sugar while focusing efforts around nutrition, food safety policy and renewable energy initiatives that impact agriculture stakeholders across the country. In fact, Michigan ranks as the second most diversified agricultural state in the country.

Particularly noteworthy is Senator Stabenow’s support for landmark legislation that would incorporate the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program into schools nationwide.  This law has made vital changes in schoolchildren’s lives, introducing them to healthier foods and eating habits by increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables in schools. Last summer, she spent time in California touring both the Central Valley and Salinas areas to better understand western agriculture and met with many farmers about the need to cooperate across commodity and regional lines.

“Senator Stabenow brings a wealth of experience to the table when it comes to agriculture issues and how they impact farmers and ranchers of all sizes. The Senate Agriculture Committee will be in capable hands with Senator Stabenow,” said Robert Guenther, Senior Vice President of Public Policy for United Fresh.

“Senate Stabenow has the full support of fruit and vegetable producers across the country as the next chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee,” added Stenzel.  “The Senate would be well-served under her leadership on the many challenges we face in the coming years.”