Political Quotes

“According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service, small family farms account for 90 percent of all U.S. farms. These farms are vital to local communities and economies, and they provide fresh produce for their local farmers' markets, farm-to-school programs, soup kitchens, and a host of other local consumer activity. Sales attributed to these farmers can total up to $12 billion annually. I was thrilled to see President Biden's administration, through the Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, recently announce $400 million in funding to support local, regional, and socially disadvantaged farmers. This is dedicated funding that will go directly toward local producers and local and regional food systems to help revitalize the essential farming that makes America proud. I was also pleased that the administration included Secretary Vilsack in its new Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force. This will address the unfair trade practices that have allowed for cheap and unjust agriculture labor practices to continue at home and abroad. They have allowed large agriculture companies to thrive and put their food all over grocers' shelves, while our small farmers struggle to put food on their own tables. This decisive action to increase domestic competitiveness is what our small family farmers need to regain their footing and make it economically viable to farm for their communities and our country.…”