Washington raspberry sector backs letter urging specialty crop push in upcoming USMCA review

The Evergreen State’s raspberry sector has once again urged officials to put specialty crops at the heart of the upcoming United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) review. 

The Washington Red Raspberry Commission (WRRC) endorsed a bipartisan letter sent to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). Penned by Representative Austin Scott (R-Georgia), the missive argues that Mexican specialty crop imports have created an uneven playing field for American producers.

Washington is America’s leading producer of processed red raspberries, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), with a heavy focus on the frozen category. Growers in the state have faced mounting pressure in recent years from lower-priced imported fruit, particularly from Mexico, as domestic production costs continue to rise.

“Current Mexican trade practices have flooded our markets with products that are held to a lower production standard than those produced here by American farmers. The USMCA review process gives us an opportunity to reaffirm and recommit our support for domestic agriculture by forcing Mexico to play by the same rules,” said Rep. Scott.

Washington raspberry industry calls for protection

The letter, signed by 79 House members, calls on the Trump Administration to consider additional trade measures to preserve the long-term viability of the US specialty crop sector and maintain domestic food production capacity.

Washington raspberry industry representatives said the issue has become increasingly urgent as growers contend with higher production expenses.

“For Washington’s raspberry growers, underpriced fruit imports from Mexico represent a serious concern,” said Gavin Willis, Executive Director at WRRC. “When our growers can’t compete with imports from areas with substantially lower wage costs and reduced regulatory and environmental compliance requirements, our domestic food security is put at risk. The upcoming USMCA review provides the US government an opportunity to address these issues head-on.”

In the letter, the Members write: "Without measures to restore competitive balance, specialty crop production will increasingly move to foreign countries. We urge you to evaluate trade actions that can safeguard US growers from unfair pressures from Mexico. This work is essential to maintaining US competitiveness in the specialty crop sector and to ensuring Americans continue to have access to high-quality, domestically grown food—an issue fundamental to our national security.”

Read the full letter below.

*All photos are referential.

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