VACCINE
First and foremost, since the topic is perhaps the one we have received the most inquiries on over the last 2 weeks is about access to the vaccine. In brief, we are pleased to report that Agricultural Workers have been recommended to be in the “1b” category to receive the vaccine in the next 5wks to 15wks. This means that after Healthcare (nurses and doctors), First Responders (police, ambulance, fire fighters), and Vulnerable Populations (ex: elderly and long-term healthcare patients), the Food and Agriculture industries have been suggested to receive access to the vaccine as a priority group within the Frontline Essential Workforce.
CDC released their guidance here. TIPA will continue to work with national and state partners as more information becomes available.
 
 
COVID RELIEF
Both houses of Congress reached a compromise yesterday, and it looks like a COVID relief package will be finalized very soon (maybe even today). United Fresh has assembled this great brief on the relevant highlights to fresh produce:
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USDA Agriculture and Nutrition Programs

COVID-related support for agriculture producers and food purchases – $11.2 billion

  • No less than $1.5 billion to purchase food and agriculture products for distribution, especially fresh produce, dairy, and meat, to those in need
  • Provides $225 million in supplemental payments to producers of specialty crops if they lost their crop in 2019

Specialty Crop Block Grant Program – $100 million

  • Additional $100 million for Specialty Crop State Block Grants to mitigate challenges related to COVID at the state level

Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) – $100 million

  • Additional funding from LAMP program originally established in 2018 Farm Bill designed to target small and medium sized producers for a broad range of eligible support. Eligible entities must show impact from COVID-19.

GusNIP Fruit and Vegetable Incentives – $75 million

  • Emergency increase in funding for retail SNAP fruit and vegetable incentive projects

SNAP

  • Increases monthly SNAP benefits by 15% through June 2021 and expands eligibility to working college students
  • Additional $5 million for expanding SNAP online purchasing program

WIC 

  • Directs USDA to establish taskforce to identify alternative delivery models for WIC, including curbside and other safe purchasing methods

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

Funding Amount

  • Additional $300 billion in funding for a second round of PPP loans, which were used widely by produce companies

Eligible Expenses

  • Specifically to address a need we pushed for produce and food distributors, expands eligible expenses under PPP loans to include expenses for unpaid debts for food due to COVID shutdowns. Also makes perishable goods eligible for PPP loans before or at any time during the time of the applicable covered loan.

What Wasn’t Included

Unfortunately, tense negotiations led to several important priorities being left out of this agreement. 

Restaurant Aid

  • Outside of PPP, no targeted relief for restaurants was included, as proposed in the RESTAURANTS Act

Liability Protection Provisions

  • Congress agreed to tackle liability provisions in a separate bill that will include funding for state and local governments along with limited liability protections for businesses. 

WIC Cash Value Benefit Increase

  • The final package failed to include the state option to temporarily include a WIC cash value benefit increase to $35/month. 
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As always, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out to myself or the TIPA offices with any and all inquiries.
Finally – Thank You! Thank you for your membership to TIPA. Thank you for the support of this industry. And thank you for the dedication to continuing to keep the fresh produce industry alive and moving forward through the challenges that have been 2020.
Sincere hopes for a Happy Holiday season to each of you and your loved ones,
Dante L Galeazzi
CEO/President
Texas International Produce Association