Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock and Ben Ray Luján introduced legislation to make it easier for specialty crop producers facing economic hardship to access federal support

Georgia is a leading producer of specialty crops—including blueberries, Vidalia onions, pecans, and peaches

Senator Warnock is the only Southern Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee

Senator Reverend Warnock: “Anyone who has ever enjoyed Georgia peaches, blueberries, pecans, or Vidalia onions knows that Georgia’s specialty crop producers are so important to our state’s agricultural economy and our culture”

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and six of their senate colleagues introduced legislation to make it easier for specialty crop producers facing economic hardship and market disruptions to access federal support. The CHILE Act would ensure the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) uses the Specialty Crop Emergency Assistance Framework when providing direct assistance to specialty crop producers.

“Anyone who has ever enjoyed Georgia peaches, blueberries, pecans, or Vidalia onions knows that Georgia’s specialty crop producers are so important to our state’s agricultural economy and our culture,” said Senator Warnock. “The CHILE Act would provide specialty crop producers expanded access to USDA support should disaster strike. I’m proud to work with my colleagues on this legislation.”

Currently, specialty crop producers lack a standardized, predictable emergency assistance framework compared to the support available to other agricultural producers. The CHILE Act would help ensure a consistent process for providing emergency assistance during economic hardship and provides $5 billion in direct assistance to specialty crop growers.

As a veteran member of the Senate committee overseeing federal agriculture policies, and as a senator representing a state with a proud and prosperous history of agricultural excellence, Senator Warnock has been a strong supporter of specialty crop producers. He has previously led bipartisan efforts to secure disaster relief funding for Georgia farmers affected by Hurricane Helene. Senator Warnock has also worked on a bipartisan basis to reduce barriers and improve market access for American specialty crop producers in international markets.

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