Loeffler Asks Administration to Provide Swift Support to Georgia Farmers Hurt by COVID-19

Says Fruit, Vegetable Farmers Facing Dramatic Hardship as They Prepare to Harvest Crops

ATLANTA, GA – U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to use funds authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Recovery and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide swift support to Georgia specialty crops farmers who have been hurt by the coronavirus. 
 
The CARES Act, which Loeffler supported, authorizes $9.5 billion for a direct aid program for farmers experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. USDA is expected to begin releasing aid in the coming weeks. 
 
Loeffler sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, saying, “Georgia is home to a notably diverse group of specialty crops…Thanks to the hard work of Georgia farmers, Georgia is now a top five producing state for products such as blueberries, pecans, peaches, bell peppers, cucumbers, and watermelon, among others. Specialty crop producers in Georgia face dramatic financial hardship as a direct result of the COVID-19 outbreak… as fruit and vegetable farmers across Georgia prepare to harvest and sell their crops in the coming weeks, they face an uncertain future as their usual buyers such as restaurants, schools, and hotels remain closed or unable to accept these products. I respectfully ask that USDA address these losses in any upcoming aid program.
 
“Furthermore, I implore you to work with specialty crop producers to find available avenues for them to sell and distribute their products both domestically and aboard. Georgia’s strong food bank network has played an essential part in ensuring food access for Georgia residents throughout the COVID-19 outbreak and they stand ready to work with you and the agriculture community to provide nutritious food options to our at-risk population.”
 
The full letter is available here. 
 
Loeffler has joined her colleagues in sending three additional letters to Secretary Perdue:  
 
She joined a letter urging USDA to ensure timely economic relief for cotton farmers. The full letter is available here. 
She joined Congressman Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) in a letter on behalf of Georgia blueberry farmers, who harvest over 50 million pounds a year of blueberries. The full letter is available here. 
She joined a letter urging USDA to provide swift assistance to cattle producers. The full letter is available here. 
 
For additional resources for farmers, visit Loeffler.senate.gov/CARES.