Ensuring the Harvest

The Union of Concerned Scientists identifies systemic policy barriers that prevent U.S. farmers from increasing the production of fruits and vegetables. Current federal subsidies favor non-perishable commodity crops, while sustainable and diversified farms struggle with a lack of accessible crop insurance and credit. The report recommends eliminating planting restrictions, improving whole-farm-revenue insurance, and expanding micro-lending to support local food systems and public health.

• There is a significant gap between U.S. dietary recommendations and actual land use; while the USDA recommends fruits and vegetables make up 50 percent of daily intake, they are grown on only 2 percent of U.S. farm acres.
• Federal crop insurance is primarily designed for a small number of subsidized, non-perishable commodity crops like corn, soybeans, and cotton, leaving many sustainable healthy-food farms without accessible coverage.
• The USDA's 'whole-farm-revenue' insurance policy, intended for diversified farms, is underutilized due to a burdensome structural design and limited availability.
• Certified organic farmers face financial penalties and valuation issues in insurance, including a 5 percent premium surcharge and the inability to insure fresh fruits and vegetables above conventional market prices.
• Lack of access to crop insurance creates a secondary barrier to credit, as lenders typically require insurance to protect investments, forcing some farmers to rely on high-interest consumer credit cards.
• Increasing the production of healthy foods to meet USDA guidelines could significantly boost regional economies, potentially increasing local-food sales by $9.5 billion and creating 189,000 jobs.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2012). Ensuring the Harvest. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/Ensuring-the-Harvest_summary.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. Ensuring the Harvest. 2012. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/Ensuring-the-Harvest_summary.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=Ensuring the Harvest |date=April 2012 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/Ensuring-the-Harvest_summary.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2012ensuring, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{Ensuring the Harvest}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2012}, month = apr, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/Ensuring-the-Harvest_summary.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }