Nov 14, 2025

Lawmakers bring forth specialty crop trade fairness act in U.S. Senate

Sens. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) are introducing the Fairness for Fruits and Vegetables Act in a show of bipartisan support for American specialty crop growers. The proposed bill would add mechanisms to address unfair trade practices and prevent American producers from being undercut. 

The bill, if ratified and signed into law, would establish an interagency working group composed of USDA, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), U.S. Department of Commerce and other federal agencies to monitor trade data for seasonal and perishable fruits and vegetables to help level the playing field for American producers. The working group would provide recommendations to USDA Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. The bill creates a communications channel for producers and trade associations to provide direct input to USDA on unfair trade practices. 

“Specialty crop producers across the country are essential to feeding our nation and the world,” said Slotkin in a press release. “This legislation and new working group will strengthen connections and coordination between federal agencies and ensure specialty crop producers are getting a fair deal.” 

“This new workgroup will educate our lawmakers on the needs of the industry and bridge gaps between the industry, USDA, Commerce and USTR,” said Greg Bird, Michigan Vegetable Council Executive Director in a press release. “The vegetable industry applauds this effort trying to make our country’s policies function for feeding our country and the world.” 

“We know American farmers can compete with anyone if there’s a level playing field, and we appreciate the continued attention to the challenges our state’s fruit and vegetable growers are facing,” said Ben LaCross, Michigan Farm Bureau President, in a release. “We applaud this bipartisan effort and look forward to seeing how it could yield new tools to support Michigan farmers.”

You can review the bill in full here.