As floriculture continues to feel the devastating economic impact of COVID-19, SAF has successfully advocated to bring some relief to growers via direct USDA aid.
While the USDA has yet to release the full details of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, SAF has confirmed that floriculture growers will be eligible to apply.
Historically, food-related crops have received ad hoc support from USDA in times such as natural disasters or, more recently, during the US-China “trade war.” However, the USDA has never provided direct aid to floriculture on a national basis in the past.
But with the widespread and measurable impact from COVID-19 on floriculture growers, SAF worked to change that. For more than a month, SAF led advocacy efforts both with USDA and on the Hill to gain support for the idea that floriculture should receive federal aid during this unprecedented time. SAF coordinated a floral industry coalition and launched grassroots communications to members of Congress advocating that floral industry growers should receive assistance through the $9.5 billion Congress allocated to the USDA in the Coronavirus Stimulus Package to support specialty crops, livestock, dairy and producers supplying to local markets.
Read more at the Society of American Florists (Katie Butler)
