chinese or american garlic?

Produce farmers are uniting to lobby for a bill that will be put forth to Congress in January. Historically, only interchangeable commodities such as corn, cotton, wheat, rice and soybeans have been supplied with federal government subsidies. A subsidy is the opposite of a tax; it is a grant from the government that will help in the prodution of a good that will benefit the public. Fruits and vegetables are not considered interchangeable commodities. Instead they are specialty crops because their taste and quality vary. The farmers of these specialty crops are uniting to ask for government funds so that they may contend with foreign competition. The farmers of the commodity crops expect to generate fifty two billion dollars this year. The farmers of fruit and vegetables are gaining influence, because when united, they expect to make fifty two point two billion dollars. The produce farmers supporting this bill have the advantage of having substantial representation in Congress. Increased importation from China and Hong Kong has put produce farmers at a great disadvantage thus forcing them to unite. In 2000, less than one million pounds of garlic was imported. Last year, 112 million pounds were imported. Consumers can pay fifteen dollars for a thirty pound box of Chinese garlic or twenty eight dollars for the same size box from California. The bill that the produce farmers are lobbying for is not hand-out, it is to be used for research that will educate others and improve their industry.


Farming has always played a crucial role in American life. When drafting the Constitution, one of the issues that spilt the delegates was the issue of taxes on exports from American farms. The Agricultural group of people was in favor of no export tax because it would make their products better able to compete with foreign products. The Commercial Compromise granted this wish, as well as calling for control of interstate and foreign trade.