USDA aims to boost specialty crop growers’ competitiveness at home and abroad

The Agriculture Department on Thursday will announce a new “Specialty Crops Competitiveness Initiative” designed to help the government tailor its efforts to help the producers of such crops, including seasonal and perishable growers who have long said they face unfair competition from Mexican industry. USDA is “actively partnering with specialty crops growers to increase the competitiveness of U.S. products in domestic and international markets, minimize costs, manage pests and diseases, strengthen supply chains, and support climate outcomes,” the department says...