USDA Clarifies Decision to Ease Country of Origin Labeling

Posted by Paul Rusnak|April 30, 2020

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) recently announced it would temporarily suspend enforcement of Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) for fresh fruit and vegetables in response to the coronavirus. The move allows products sold to foodservice businesses to be redistributed to grocery stores, markets, and other retail businesses. Makes sense with current food chain challenges presented by coronavirus, right?

By definition, COOL food package labeling clearly identifies in what country a covered food product originated, such as the “Product of USA” label. Stakeholders in Florida’s farming industry worry though that suspending enforcement of this labeling could seriously disadvantage American agriculture producers, especially local seasonal produce growers affected by the dumping of produce by Mexico.

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried raised the issue with USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue and USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Censky. Since then, USDA-AMS has clarified that this COOL suspension only applies to fruit and vegetable products imported and in inventory before April 20, 2020 and previously packaged and shipped for foodservice industries. The suspension does not apply to food products imported since April 20, 2020, which will be enforced as normal.

In response to the clarification, Fried offered the following statement in writing:

“I thank the USDA for clarifying their decision on produce Country of Origin Labeling. American agriculture is already facing tremendous challenges, with a devastating influx of foreign competition and plummeting demand from foodservice businesses during COVID-19. Florida’s seasonal produce growers supply 150 million Americans with fresh fruit and vegetables, yet are facing over $522 million in projected losses from COVID-19. Anything that opens the door to more potential foreign competition is a threat to the domestic growers who feed our families.”