IFPA Statement on $12B Farm Aid Package for U.S. Agriculture; IFPA Members - Ask your U.S. Representative to Support Economic Aid for Specialty Crops

December 12, 2025

Washington, DC - The International Fresh Produce Association acknowledges the Trump Administration’s continued attention to the economic challenges facing agriculture. While today’s announcement falls short of providing the most timely relief that specialty crops need, we stand ready to work with the Administration on meaningful assistance available from the 1B set aside for the remainder of agriculture.

Specialty crop growers face many of the same pressures as their row-crop counterparts, along with uniquely high costs, labor constraints, and market volatility. Because these producers do not benefit from traditional safety net programs, meaningful support must reflect the diversity of crops and production systems across this sector.

IFPA looks forward to working with USDA and Congress to ensure specialty crop producers receive fair, effective support that strengthens the domestic supply of fruits and vegetables essential to Americans’ health.

IFPA Members: Take Action: Ask your U.S. Representative to Support Economic Aid for Specialty Crops

When lawmakers hear directly from constituents, it makes a real impact. Today, you have an opportunity to influence agricultural policy and support specialty crop growers.

Right now, Members of Congress are circulating a “Dear Colleague” letter urging Agriculture Committee leaders to deliver targeted economic aid for specialty crop growers and to press USDA to release the $1 billion already set aside under the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program.

IFPA has prepared a ready-to-send letter so you can quickly contact your Representative.

Your outreach matters. Take a moment to send the letter and make your voice count.

In addition, the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (for which IFPA CEO Cathy Burns is a co-Chair) issued its reaction to the farm bill package below.

Specialty Crops Express Disappointment with Farm Aid Package

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 8, 2025) – The co-chairs of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) issued the following statement in response to President Trump's aid package for farmers announced today.

“We are disappointed that specialty crop growers were not included in today's announcement. As we wrote to the President on October 6, 2025, family farms that produce safe and nutritious fruits, vegetables, and tree nuts, as well as cultivate the trees, flowers, and plants that play a vital role in the nation's health and wellbeing, continue to face unprecedented economic challenges.

We stand ready to work with the Administration and Congress to advance a meaningful assistance package to support specialty crop growers during this difficult period.”

The SCFBA is co-chaired by Cathy Burns, CEO of the International Fresh Produce Association; Mike Joyner, President of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association; Dave Puglia, President and CEO of Western Growers; and Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council.

The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance is a national coalition of more than 150 organizations representing growers of fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, nursery plants and other products. The Alliance was established to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crop agriculture and improve the health of Americans by broadening the scope of U.S. agricultural public policy. For more information, visit farmbillalliance.com.

IFPA Statement on $12B Farm Aid Package for U.S. Agriculture; IFPA Members - Ask your U.S. Representative to Support Economic Aid for Specialty Crops

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