HR9240-118

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protecting Our Produce Act.

2. Seasonal and perishable crop loss pilot program The Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (Public Law 108–465; 118 Stat. 3882) is amended— by striking Secretary of Agriculture each place it appears and inserting Secretary; in section 3 (7 U.S.C. 1621 note)— in paragraph (3), by striking (3) The term and inserting the following: The term in paragraph (2), by striking (2) The term and inserting the following: The term in paragraph (1), by striking (1) The term and inserting the following: The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture. The term by adding at the end the following: In this section: The term effective price, with respect to a seasonal and perishable crop for a marketing year, means the national average market price for that seasonal and perishable crop during the seasonal marketing window for the seasonal and perishable crop. The term reference price, with respect to a seasonal and perishable crop for a marketing year, means the average of the national average market prices received by all producers of the seasonal and perishable crop during the seasonal marketing window for the seasonal and perishable crop for the most recent 5-year period of marketing seasons, excluding— the marketing season during that period with the highest national average market price; and the marketing season during that period with the lowest national average market price. The term seasonal and perishable crop means an asparagus, bell pepper, blueberry, cucumber, or squash crop that is— marketed in raw form for consumption without further processing; and as determined by the Secretary, normally marketed not later than 4 weeks after harvesting. The term seasonal marketing window means the timeframe during a marketing year, as determined by the Secretary— during which a crop is normally marketed within a specific geographical region of the United States; and that concludes on the date that is not later than 4 weeks after the last day on which the crop is normally harvested. Beginning with marketing year 2025, the Secretary shall establish a pilot program under which the Secretary shall provide annual crop loss payments to producers of seasonal and perishable crops located in any geographical region described in paragraph (2) in accordance with this section, if the Secretary determines that, during the applicable marketing year— the effective price of the seasonal and perishable crop is less than the reference price of that seasonal and perishable crop; and the crop loss described in subparagraph (A) is caused by imports of the applicable seasonal and perishable crop. A geographical region referred to in paragraph (1) is a geographical region of the United States in which a seasonal and perishable crop is grown within a seasonal marketing window during which a harvest and shipment of the seasonal and perishable crop occurs, as determined by the Secretary. To be eligible to receive a payment under the pilot program under this section, a producer of 1 or more seasonal and perishable crops shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including the information described in paragraph (2). No producer may be eligible to receive a payment under the pilot program under this section unless the producer— has an average adjusted gross income of less than $5,000,000 for the 3 tax years preceding the most recent tax year; and derives at least 75 percent of the adjusted gross income of the producer from farming, ranching, or forestry, as determined by the Secretary. The amount of a payment provided under the pilot program under this section shall be equal to the product obtained by multiplying— the payment rate for the marketing year for which the payment is provided with respect to the applicable seasonal and perishable crop under subsection (e); and the average production during the 5 most recent marketing years of the seasonal and perishable crop by the producer during the seasonal marketing window, excluding— the marketing year during that period with the highest production; and the marketing year during that period with the lowest production. The rate of a payment provided under the pilot program under this section shall be equal to the difference between— the reference price of the applicable seasonal and perishable crop; and the effective price of that seasonal and perishable crop. The pilot program under this section shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of the Protecting Our Produce Act. There is authorized to carry out the pilot program under this section $200,000,000 for each fiscal year that begins after the date of the enactment of the Protecting Our Produce Act and before the date described in subsection (f). (4)State department of agricultureThe term; (3)StateThe term; and (1)SecretaryThe term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture. (2)Specialty cropThe term; and VSeasonal and perishable crop programs 501.Seasonal and perishable crop loss pilot program (a)DefinitionsIn this section: (1)Effective priceThe term effective price, with respect to a seasonal and perishable crop for a marketing year, means the national average market price for that seasonal and perishable crop during the seasonal marketing window for the seasonal and perishable crop. (2)Reference priceThe term reference price, with respect to a seasonal and perishable crop for a marketing year, means the average of the national average market prices received by all producers of the seasonal and perishable crop during the seasonal marketing window for the seasonal and perishable crop for the most recent 5-year period of marketing seasons, excluding— (A)the marketing season during that period with the highest national average market price; and (B)the marketing season during that period with the lowest national average market price. (3)Seasonal and perishable cropThe term seasonal and perishable crop means an asparagus, bell pepper, blueberry, cucumber, or squash crop that is— (A)marketed in raw form for consumption without further processing; and (B)as determined by the Secretary, normally marketed not later than 4 weeks after harvesting. (4)Seasonal marketing windowThe term seasonal marketing window means the timeframe during a marketing year, as determined by the Secretary— (A)during which a crop is normally marketed within a specific geographical region of the United States; and (B)that concludes on the date that is not later than 4 weeks after the last day on which the crop is normally harvested. (b)Establishment of pilot program (1)In generalBeginning with marketing year 2025, the Secretary shall establish a pilot program under which the Secretary shall provide annual crop loss payments to producers of seasonal and perishable crops located in any geographical region described in paragraph (2) in accordance with this section, if the Secretary determines that, during the applicable marketing year— (A)the effective price of the seasonal and perishable crop is less than the reference price of that seasonal and perishable crop; and (B)the crop loss described in subparagraph (A) is caused by imports of the applicable seasonal and perishable crop. (2)Description of geographical regionsA geographical region referred to in paragraph (1) is a geographical region of the United States in which a seasonal and perishable crop is grown within a seasonal marketing window during which a harvest and shipment of the seasonal and perishable crop occurs, as determined by the Secretary. (c)Eligibility (1)ApplicationTo be eligible to receive a payment under the pilot program under this section, a producer of 1 or more seasonal and perishable crops shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including the information described in paragraph (2). (2)RequirementNo producer may be eligible to receive a payment under the pilot program under this section unless the producer— (A)has an average adjusted gross income of less than $5,000,000 for the 3 tax years preceding the most recent tax year; and (B)derives at least 75 percent of the adjusted gross income of the producer from farming, ranching, or forestry, as determined by the Secretary. (d)Payment amountThe amount of a payment provided under the pilot program under this section shall be equal to the product obtained by multiplying— (1)the payment rate for the marketing year for which the payment is provided with respect to the applicable seasonal and perishable crop under subsection (e); and (2)the average production during the 5 most recent marketing years of the seasonal and perishable crop by the producer during the seasonal marketing window, excluding— (A)the marketing year during that period with the highest production; and (B)the marketing year during that period with the lowest production. (e)Payment rateThe rate of a payment provided under the pilot program under this section shall be equal to the difference between— (1)the reference price of the applicable seasonal and perishable crop; and (2)the effective price of that seasonal and perishable crop. (f)SunsetThe pilot program under this section shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of the Protecting Our Produce Act. (g)Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to carry out the pilot program under this section $200,000,000 for each fiscal year that begins after the date of the enactment of the Protecting Our Produce Act and before the date described in subsection (f)..