Rep. Radel Introduces Raisin Farmer Freedom Act

Press Release

Today, Congressman Trey Radel (FL-19) introduced the Farmer Freedom Act which ends an outdated law mandating that raisin farmers unconstitutionally turn over almost half of their crops each year with no compensation to the Raisin Administration Committee (RAC). The Washington Post Editorial Board highlighted this injustice earlier this month.

Whether or not this program was ever justified, government-sponsored cartels like the RAC have no reason to exist in 2013. They accomplish nothing but benefiting politically connected packer conglomerates, while the independent raisin farmers and consumers suffer. Rep. Radel had the following comments on the Farmer Freedom Act:

"Right now, at the hands of a Depression-era law, the government is scooping up a majority of the raisins grown in this country, with no compensation to raisin growers and farmers. This is a violation of their Fifth Amendment rights. The Farmer Freedom Act repeals this bizarre and needless law. Removing failed government policies from our agriculture programs allows the free market to prosper and ultimately, lower prices at the checkout the next time you buy groceries."

Source