Bill Summary
The "Fairness for Fruits and Vegetables Act of 2025" aims to amend the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 by establishing an interagency working group focused on seasonal and perishable fruits and vegetables. This working group, composed of representatives from various federal agencies, will be responsible for monitoring and assessing trade data related to these agricultural products.
Key provisions include:
1. **Establishment of the Working Group**: The group will consist of representatives from the Department of Agriculture, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the Department of Commerce, and other relevant agencies.
2. **Trade Monitoring**: The working group will continuously evaluate trade data and related information concerning seasonal and perishable fruits and vegetables.
3. **Coordination on Trade Actions**: It will coordinate potential additional trade actions and investigations regarding these products when deemed necessary.
4. **Consultation with Stakeholders**: The group will consult with the Agricultural Trade Advisory Committee and relevant producers and trade associations to identify threats that imports may pose to domestic producers.
5. **Recommendations for Support**: Finally, the working group will provide recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture on programs or assistance to help domestic producers mitigate adverse market impacts.
Overall, this legislation seeks to enhance the competitiveness and stability of the domestic market for seasonal and perishable fruits and vegetables by fostering interagency collaboration and addressing import-related challenges.
Possible Impacts
The "Fairness for Fruits and Vegetables Act of 2025" could affect people in various ways, particularly those involved in the agricultural sector, consumers, and policymakers. Here are three examples of how this legislation might have an impact:
1. **Support for Domestic Producers**: By establishing an interagency working group to monitor trade data and assess the impacts of imports on domestic seasonal and perishable fruit and vegetable producers, the legislation aims to protect local farmers from unfair competition. This could lead to more robust support for domestic agriculture, ensuring that local producers can compete effectively against imported goods, which may benefit their livelihoods and sustain local economies.
2. **Consumer Prices and Availability**: If the working group identifies that imports are threatening domestic production, it may recommend trade actions to limit imports or provide support to local farmers. This could lead to changes in the availability and pricing of seasonal fruits and vegetables in the market. Consumers might experience higher prices for certain produce if imports are restricted, but they may also benefit from increased availability of fresh, locally-grown options throughout the growing season.
3. **Policy Development and Impact**: The legislation encourages collaboration among various federal agencies, which could lead to more informed and effective agricultural trade policies. This interagency approach may enhance the government's ability to respond to market fluctuations and threats to domestic agriculture, resulting in policies that more accurately reflect the needs of producers and the economic realities of the agricultural market. Policymakers and trade associations could leverage the recommendations from the working group to advocate for beneficial policies that support both producers and consumers.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3112 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 3112
To amend the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 to establish an interagency
seasonal and perishable fruits and vegetables working group, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 5, 2025
Ms. Slotkin (for herself and Ms. Collins) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 to establish an interagency
seasonal and perishable fruits and vegetables working group, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Fairness for Fruits and Vegetables
Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. INTERAGENCY SEASONAL AND PERISHABLE FRUITS AND VEGETABLE
WORKING GROUP.
Subtitle B of title IV of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7
U.S.C. 5671 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 418. INTERAGENCY SEASONAL AND PERISHABLE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
WORKING GROUP.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Under
Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs,
the United States Trade Representative, the Secretary of Commerce, and
the heads of other Federal agencies or entities, as determined to be
appropriate by the Secretary, shall jointly establish an interagency
working group (referred to in this section as the `working group')
composed of representatives from each agency to monitor and assess, on
an ongoing basis, seasonal and perishable fruits and vegetables trade
data and related information.
``(b) Trade Actions and Investigations.--The working group shall
coordinate as appropriate regarding potential additional trade actions
and investigations with respect to any seasonal or perishable
agricultural products, as determined to be advisable by the working
group.
``(c) Consultation.--The working group shall consult with the
Agricultural Trade Advisory Committee, relevant seasonal or perishable
agricultural producers, and other relevant trade associations to
identify threats that imports pose to domestic producers of seasonal
and perishable fruits and vegetables.
``(d) Recommendations to Secretary.--The working group shall
recommend programs or assistance that the Secretary could provide to
producers of seasonal and perishable fruits and vegetables to address
market impacts.''.
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