Longshoremen's strike highlights the importance of food independence

Longshoremen's strike highlights the importance of food independence

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall today commented on the impact of the East Coast longshoremen's strike.

“America is preparing for the impact of the massive longshoremen's strike that threatens to paralyze the movement of goods in and out of the United States. Our country relies on international trade for everything from electronics to machinery.

“Families also count on imports of food such as bananas, coffee and specialty foods including chocolate and European beer. Although there is a risk of shortages of some items, the United States is fortunate to be able to meet its nutritional needs without importing food. America's farmers grow a diverse range of foods that ensure the country's food self-sufficiency. Rest assured, America's food supply is strong and store shelves will continue to be stocked with domestically grown produce.

“That’s not to say rural America won’t feel the impact of a longshoremen’s strike. Farmers and ranchers rely on international partners to sell billions of dollars' worth of home-grown food in markets around the world. A disruption at the ports could cause perishable food to rot on the docks, endangering farmers' livelihoods.

“It is important that farmers can continue to meet the needs of American families. They do this with the help of the agricultural bill. Ironically, the extension of the farm bill expired at the same time as the longshoremen's strike began. Farmers and ranchers focus on growing the food, fiber and fuel that families rely on. But they are operating under a cloud of uncertainty as several safety net programs designed to help them get through difficult times are slowly being phased out.

“We urge both sides of the longshoremen's disagreement to work toward a solution that will return critical ports to normal operations.” We also urge Congress to recognize the importance of America's food independence and a new five-year farm bill years to ensure a stable food supply for America’s families.”

Read a Market Intel on the impact of the longshoremen's strike here.

Source: AFBF