USApple Applauds Repeal Of Country Of Origin Labeling

Today, the Senate followed the House in passing a bipartisan spending bill to fund the government through Sept. 30, 2016. The legislation ensures continuity for U.S. Apple Association (USApple) priority programs including the Market Access Program (MAP), Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI), Specialty Crop Block Grants and Federal Crop Insurance.

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Importantly, the bill also repeals Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) for meat, ending a trade dispute with Canada and Mexico and averting the imposition of $1 billion in tariffs on U.S. products.

“This is extremely good news for the U.S. apple industry and we thank Congress for fixing this critical trade problem,” said USApple Chairman Mike Wade of Washington state. “Canada and Mexico are our top two export markets, valued at more than $450 million annually. If these tariffs had been allowed to take effect, it would have cost jobs and potentially put growers out of business from coast to coast.”

Resolving the trade dispute has been a top legislative priority for USApple and apple leaders from all of the major producing states, including Washington, New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, California, Virginia, Idaho, Ohio and the New England states, all of which weighed in with their respective Congressional delegations urging action.

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Avatar for Mary St Amer Mary St Amer says:

I purchase US grown fruits and vegetables only, and hope that US growers can, and will, continue with US identification on their produce.

Why would a country not be proud of their fruit and want it so labeled? Is there something wrong with it?

Avatar for Reid Reid says:

You should be Ashamed of yourself. Foreign Countries dont want the American People to know that their product is coming from a land that cant equal what the American Producer Provides and you buckle into them……. You shouldn’t be allowed in the United States

Avatar for Ann Ann says:

I want to know where, when, and how my food was grown. These changes I law seem completely nuts to me.

Avatar for Russell Braen Russell Braen says:

Non-US apples that have high residue have landed apples on the top of the “Dirty Dozen” most toxic foods for two years straight. It used to be possible to avoid apples that test badly for residue from certain countries. Now that there is no way to know the difference I will no longer be able to feed apples to my children with a clear conscience.

Avatar for Anne Schwartz Anne Schwartz says:

I want to know where my food comes from, I want the food I grow to be identified from my farm where ever possible. I sell about $80,000 of produce annually, and all of it has our name on it. Consequently, everything I grow has a market with people that look for it, know it will be great quality, and don’t push me to the cheapest price in the marketplace. I pay fair wages and have employees that stay with me for years.

I don’t believe this: “Importantly, the bill also repeals Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) for meat, ending a trade dispute with Canada and Mexico and averting the imposition of $1 billion in tariffs on U.S. products.” This congress has to be the worst since the beginning of time. Why in the hell don’t you want people to know where there food comes from? A billion in tariffs is that what it is – hell you folks blow that much in a month. Now I know I’m right that these people should be under term limits. Two terms for senators & three terms for congressman.

Sam Blackstone, Circle B Farms We deliver state wide Apples & Highbush Blueberries and proudly mark everything that leaves the farm, Caribou, Maine. If it I not marked with a state or USA my wife will leave it on the store shelf.

Avatar for Susan Susan says:

With food safety and traceability, GAP and FSMA all in place for what farmers grow in the US how does it make sense that we do not get to know where apples are coming from? What about those of us who want US grown produce for health reasons and for environmental reasons? This is incredible.

Avatar for Larry Larry says:

Perhaps The Made in America stores need to start a Produce chain, Grown and Processed in America.

Avatar for Dan Dan says:

Somehow apple growers have the delusion that tariffs on our exports to a market like Canada and/or Mexico will be more than the added sales from people who will buy US apples because they see the competition labeled as originating from some other country. I bet China just gave a big wet kiss to USApple.

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