"The Academy supports this effort and will work with the USDA to transform the country's food system to benefit both consumers and producers by creating more and better markets."

ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS

"We applaud the goals of these USDA actions — to create a fairer, more resilient, and climate-friendly food system, increase equity, and improve access to nutritious food. These should be the goals of every policymaker thinking about our food and agriculture system. We hope to see all farm system advocates enthusiastically embrace these efforts."

EARTHJUSTICE

"The Environmental Working Group today applauds Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack for announcing a new program to help farmers and ranchers make the transition to organic farming."

ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP

"The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) commends the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for its plan to provide much-needed assistance to improve food access."

FOOD RESEARCH AND ACTION CENTER

"...we cannot take the strength of the supply chain for granted. Change is needed to strengthen it in the face of whatever future challenges we see as a nation. That is why today’s announcement on USDA’s efforts to ensure resiliency, competitiveness and equity is so important to the future of American agriculture."

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF FARMER COOPERATIVES

"The National Organic Coalition is thrilled to see USDA invest in helping more farmers transition to organic production. The creation of this transition program, in addition to increased support for existing organic farmers, is essential to create a more sustainable food system that protects the health of farmworkers, rural communities, and eaters."

NATIONAL ORGANIC COALITION

"The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) applauds Secretary Vilsack’s announcement of a framework to transform the food system to support consumers, producers, and rural communities by providing more options, increasing access, and creating and improving markets for diverse producers. Today’s announcement is another meaningful step toward creating a more fair, equitable, and sustainable farm and food system. When taken together with USDAs recent actions to fight concentration and consolidation and support climate focused conservation programs, these new investments will help farmers grow healthy, affordable foods for families in their own communities."

NATIONAL SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE COALITION

"These investments take a bold step towards leveling the playing field for communities that have been burdened and endangered by our food system and have not seen a fair share of its benefits. By building on well-used programs with a focus on equity, USDA’s framework will help all communities get healthy food on the table while benefiting from a safer environment."

NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL

"Taken together, these initiatives and investments represent a big step toward a truly transformative food and farming system. That Secretary Vilsack and the Biden-Harris administration recognize the need to transform our food system to be more resilient to disruption and more equitable is a critical step. And there is much more to be done."

UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS

"I applaud Secretary Tom Vilsack and USDA for their hard work to implement these resources in a way that will make the supply chain more resilient, give producers access to markets and fairer prices, and ensure that all Americans have better access to nutritious and affordable food."

Chairman David Scott, House Agriculture Committee

"Americans have to access the healthy food they need no matter what.” “I’m pleased Secretary Vilsack is implementing my supply chain provisions to lower costs, and build a food system that is fairer for consumers and better for the men and women who power our food economy."

Senator Stabenow, Senate Agriculture Committee, Chair

"Farmers Union members have long known the importance of a strong and resilient food supply and a fair agricultural economy. Today’s announcement by Secretary Vilsack about how the USDA will work to transform the food system is a great step towards those ends. NFU will work collaboratively with USDA to inform this transformative process. Farmers Union members are ready and able to help confront the big challenges of our time— making agriculture markets more fair and competitive, breaking down barriers to healthy food, reinvigorating our communities, and addressing the climate crisis."

National Farmers Union President, Rob Larew

"Yesterday, I saw Secretary Vilsack speak passionately to a vision for a more resilient, more equitable, and more diverse food system. These investments are the rubber meeting the road, and they are made possible by an administration and a USDA that is committed to change, to showing up strong for farmers across the country, and seeing the great diversity in our farming communities, and the great potential of this new generation."

David Howard, Policy Campaigns Co-Director at Young Farmers

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August 5th, 2022

August 5^th, 2022