Fresh and Healthy FOOD

The farm bill influences what is produced on farms and our access to fresh and healthy food (PDF). Currently, U.S. farm policy heavily subsidizes "commodity" grains (and, indirectly, high-fructose corn syrup) while providing little support for fruit and vegetable production. Fruit, vegetables, nuts, and other “specialty crop” producers receive almost no federal support.

The lopsided allocation of resources has an impact on prices. From 1985-2000, the real price of fresh fruits and vegetables increased by almost 40 percent, while the real price of fats and sugars declined.

In addition, most farm bill programs that help make it easier for Americans to eat fresh and healthy food are woefully underfunded. The following programs, in total, receive less than one-fifth of one percent of the billions of subsidy dollars we give to wheat, corn, soy and other commodity producers:

• The Farmers’ Market Promotion Program—which supports the creation of farmers' markets in new areas—receives only $1 million per year.
• The Community Food Projects Program is funded at just $5 million per year.
• The Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program reaches only a few hundred schools nationwide with its $9 million per year funding.
• The Farm to Cafeteria Program—created to help incorporate locally grown foods into school lunches, install school gardens and expand school nutrition education—receives no funding.
• The Senior and WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Programs receive just $15 million and $20 million per year respectively.

The House of Representatives farm bill includes $5.6 billion in additional funding for nutrition, healthy diets, and fruit and vegetable programs. This funding is at risk of being cut, visit AFT's Action Network to send a message to Congress about the need for these important priorities and a balanced farm bill.

» Over 300 Doctors and Health Professionals Call For Healthy Farm Bill

» What you can do to support the farm bill

» AFT's farm bill recommendations