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Congressman Jimmy Panetta represents California’s Central Coast, the diverse region covering all of Monterey and San Benito Counties and southern portions of Santa Clara and Santa Cruz Counties. California’s Central Coast is the epicenter of specialty crop and organic agriculture producing over $5 billion annually.
OPN recently sat down to discuss the importance of organic horticulture with Congressman Panetta.
OPN Connect: Thank you for representing the Central Coast of California, one of the largest areas of organic production in the country. Why is organic production important to you and how does it shape your priorities?
The Central Coast has always been on the leading edge of organic production. Producers in my district were instrumental in influencing the creation of the federal organic program, and they continue to lead the industry in organic fruit and vegetable production. For many of our producers, organic production is as much of a lifestyle as it is a business opportunity.
Recognizing the historical, cultural, and economic contributions of the organic industry to the Central Coast, I am advocating for strong investments in organic research and production in the 2018 Farm Bill. I am working with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to identify areas where Congress can continue to propel the success of the organic industry.
OPN Connect: This year Congress will be working on the 2018 Farm Bill. What priorities are you championing for organic in this year’s bill? Are there any risks you see to organic?
I strongly advocate for increased investments in organic research. I authored the Organic Agriculture Research Act along with Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Congressman Dan Newhouse (R-WA) to designate more research dollars to the organic community including soil health and pest management.
As I mentioned, fraudulent organic imports are threatening the integrity of the USDA organic seal. I am working with my colleagues to garner support for investing in USDA’s National Organic Program so the Department is better able to respond to these fraudulent imports.
Additionally, I am working to ensure that organic producers have access to certain USDA Rural Development programs. These include rural development business grants and value-added product marketing grants. By explicitly listing organic eligibility, we can encourage producers to pursue organic production and increase access to their products.
Overall, the biggest risks facing the organic sector in the 2018 Farm Bill are due to Congress consistently underfunding organic programs. For programs to automatically be included in the Farm Bill, they must meet a minimum funding level known as “baseline funding.” Unfortunately, many of the USDA programs that are critical to the organic community are smaller, so they do not meet that threshold. This means that the organic community is fighting for inclusion every time the bill is being crafted. Many of these programs include the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative, Organic Cost Share, Organic Data Initiative, and the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program.
While daunting, I see it as my responsibility to fight for these programs. The organic industry is critical to the success of our agriculture industry on the Central Coast and these federal investments help ensure such benefit.
OPN Connect: You sit on the House Agriculture Committee and work on the subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research. Is horticulture being adequately served by the federal government?
Historically, federal programs that fund horticulture efforts are overprescribed and underfunded. In the Farm Bill, the programs that directly touch horticulture account for less than 1% of total funding. Most of the conversation is dominated by nutrition programs, commodities, crop insurance, and conservation.
Though these other programs are important, I use this lack of awareness as an opportunity to educate my colleagues on the importance of the specialty crop industry. The USDA is encouraging Americans to make half their plates fruits and vegetables, so I believe that we should be devoting more than 1% of our agriculture spending to these sectors.
I plan to use my seat on the Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research Subcommittee to push for an increased focus on the specialty crop and organic sectors. By raising a voice for these industries, I hope to use my position to better serve the growers, farmworkers, and consumers who are depending on the success of these products.
OPN Connect: You also serve on the subcommittee on Nutrition. Are there synergies you envision with organic and nutrition programs?
Unfortunately, organic produce has historically been out of reach to those who depend on federal nutrition assistance such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). That issue is further compounded because organic production has struggled to keep pace with soaring consumer demand, which keeps prices high.
I do not believe that this needs to be the status quo. By supporting innovations in organic agriculture and encouraging farmers to transition to organic production, we can work to increase the availability of organic fruits and vegetables at a more affordable price.
Nutrition programs are already working to help make organic produce more accessible. For example, the USDA’s Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive program (FINI) helps SNAP recipients stretch their benefits farther by incentivizing the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables. I saw this firsthand when I visited Arteagas Food Center in Gilroy, California to tour their store and see how they are helping community members stretch their SNAP benefits farther while promoting the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables.
I am using my positions on the Nutrition Subcommittee and the Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research Subcommittee to ensure the expansion and accessibility of these programs.
OPN Connect: In your first year of Congress you have been a tireless champion for your district. What drives your passion for public service for the Central Coast?
My immigrant grandparents came to the United States to give their children a better life. Since they worked very hard to achieve the American Dream, we were taught that we should always give back to the country and community that gave us so much.
That commitment inspired and guided me throughout my adulthood, as a prosecutor in Alameda and Monterey counties to my service as an officer in the United States Navy, and now as a Member of Congress.
