California Table Grape Industry Welcomes Momentum on Farm Bill

The California table grape industry is welcoming renewed progress on a long-delayed federal farm bill following action in the U.S. House Agriculture Committee to advance new legislation.

The committee recently approved H.R. 7567, legislation aimed at replacing the current farm bill framework and moving the measure forward in Congress. Industry leaders say the step signals important momentum after years of extensions to the previous law.

“California table grape growers compete in a global marketplace while supplying families across the United States with fresh, healthy fruit,” said Ian LeMay, president of the California Table Grape Commission. “A Farm Bill that reflects the needs of the specialty crop sector is essential to maintaining that competitiveness. We are encouraged to see forward progress and a return to regular order that gives growers the opportunity to be heard.”

The farm bill governs a wide range of federal agricultural programs, including research, conservation, trade promotion and nutrition assistance. The current framework is based largely on the 2018 farm bill, which was originally set to expire in 2023 but has been extended while lawmakers work toward a replacement.

Specialty crop groups such as the California Table Grape Commission have been closely watching the legislative process, emphasizing the importance of programs that support fruits, vegetables and nuts. These programs include export promotion, pest and disease management initiatives, and research funding that help producers compete both domestically and internationally.

California table grape growers produce about 99 percent of the commercially grown table grapes in the United States, supplying both domestic markets and export customers.

While the House committee action marks an early step, the legislation must still advance through the full House and Senate before a final farm bill can be enacted. Growers and industry organizations note they will continue engaging with lawmakers to ensure specialty crops remain a central part of the discussion as the process moves forward.