Glenn Thompson: “Yesterday, on Monday, I hosted and chaired a Listening Session on Organic Agriculture at our State capitol in…”

“Yesterday, on Monday, I hosted and chaired a Listening Session on Organic Agriculture at our State capitol in Harrisburg. Agriculture is a key economic driver in Pennsylvania and remains the Commonwealth's number one industry. One in seven jobs in Pennsylvania is connected to agriculture, a fact especially important in rural areas, generating some $7.4 billion in sales in 2017. Yet agriculture in Pennsylvania and around the country goes well beyond our local communities. Our farmers not only feed, clothe, and provide energy and fiber for all Americans, but also to many other nations around the world. Pennsylvania agriculture is diverse and encompasses a wide array of commodities and production methods. Monday's listening session was specifically focused on the organic agriculture sector in Pennsylvania. I was proudly joined by my colleagues, Congressman Scott Perry and Congressman Tom Marino, as well as Pennsylvania's agriculture deputy secretary, Cheryl Cook. We heard from a number of expert panelists, including: Leslie Zuck of Pennsylvania Certified Organic; Dr. Kristy Borrelli of Penn State extension; Scott Sechler of Bell & Evans; Ken Rice, an organic livestock feed seller; Andrew Kline, an organic beef and milk producer; and Hannah Smith-Brubaker of the Pennsylvania Sustainable Agriculture Association, or PASA. We heard some tremendous testimony from the all-star panel, and I thank them for their insights.…”