In the US, the House of Representatives has voted against the passing of the 2013 version of the Farm Bill, defeating it by 234 votes to 195.
It marks the second consecutive year that the House has rejected an updated Farm Bill – last year, lawmakers opted instead to extend the 2008 Farm Bill by one year.
The vote has frustrated several fresh produce industry bodies, with the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance announcing that it was 'deeply disappointed' by the failure to move the bill to conference.
The United Fresh Produce Association echoed this disappointment, with the organisation's Robert Guenther calling for a speedy resolution.
“We felt we had a very strong bill for specialty crops that was supported by members from both sides of the aisle,” said Guenther, United Fresh senior vice-president of public policy. “We strongly encourage the House Leadership and the House Agriculture Committee to get back together and bring back to the House floor a bill that can pass before the current extension expires at the end of September.”
