Chairman Collin C. Peterson was voted out last week as the Chair to the House Agriculture Committee and Representative Jim Costa of California and Representative David Scott from Georgia have both announced their candidacy for the position. The California Fresh Fruit Association announced its support for the appointment of Congressman Jim Costa as Chair to the House Agriculture Committee.
Costa represents California’s 16th Congressional District which resides in the heart of California’s Central Valley. Home to not only the City of Fresno, California’s fifth largest city, but also a region of California that accounts for 25 percent of the state’s agriculture production, the 16th District perfectly embodies the many elements of jurisdiction that the House Agriculture Committee is tasked with each year.
CFFA states that "Congressman Costa understands the importance of protecting the country’s domestic food supply, has been a strong advocate for rural America and at the same time has strongly advocated for expanding the nation’s nutrition programs to assist those in need."
CFFA President Ian LeMay stated, “On behalf of the California Fresh Fruit Association and its members, I would like to express our support for Congressman Jim Costa to serve as Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture in the 117th Congress. During his time in Congress, Congressman Costa has repeatedly demonstrated an astute knowledge for not only the needs of production agriculture, but also the needs of those who rely on our nation’s nutrition programs. A farmer himself, Congressman Costa understands the daily challenges farmers face to produce food and fiber for the American and global consumer.”
LeMay continued, "By my estimation, California is due, and I can think of no better individual to lead the Agriculture Committee to help shape U.S. agriculture policy during these perilous times than Congressman Jim Costa. The Association knows that with his passion and leadership, Congressman Costa will advocate for all farmers, ranchers and consumers across the country.”
Congressman Costa has served on the Agriculture Committee since 2005. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture and was a conferee for both the 2014 and 2018 Farm Bills.
For more information:
Ian LeMay
California Fresh Fruit Association
Tel: +1 (559) 226-6330
Email: ilemay@cafreshfruit.com
www.cafreshfruit.org