The Hidden Costs of the Farm Bill

WHAT'S MISSING THE HIDDEN COSTS OF THE FARM BILL FROM YOUR PLATE? 8 X MORE IN SUBSIDIES TO COMMODITY CROPS THAN TO FRUITS, NUTS AND VEGETABLES BETWEEN 2008 AND 2010 THE FARM BILL GAVE $39.6 BILLION $4.7 BILLION FOR COMMODITY CROPS FOR SPECIALTY CROPS (CORN, SOY, COTTON, RICE AND WHEAT) (FRUITS, VEGETABLES AND NUTS) THE TOP 20% OF FARMERS GOT 81% OF THE SUBSIDIES WHILE THE BOTTOM 80% GOT JUST 19% OF THE SUBSIDIES BUT ONLY 2 X THE 2008-2010 MARKET VALUE THE VALUE OF FRUITS, OF COMMODITY CROPS IS NUTS AND VEGETABLES... $320 BILLION $170 BILLION MARKET VALUE OF COMMODITY CROPS MARKET VALUE OF SPECIALTY CROPS & OVER THE LAST DECADE, CONSUMPTION OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES HAS DECLINED BY 9 POUNDS A PERSON... THIS HAS CONTRIBUTED TO INCREASES IN MEDICAL COSTS OF FOUR DIET-RELATED CHRONIC ILLNESSES: DIABETES THE US SPENDS 2 CANCER FEWER THAN 5% → $190 BILLION 3 CORONARY HEART DISEASE OF ADULTS EAT THE RECOMMENDED DAILY 4 STROKE A YEAR IN ADDITIONAL MEDICAL COSTS AS A RESULT OF OBESITY AMOUNT OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. OF PEOPLE SAID MAKING NUTRITIOUS & HEALTHY FOODS MORE AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE 78% JOIN TOM COLICCHIO, MICHAEL POLLAN AND MORE THAN 70 OF THE NATION'S FOOD AND HEALTH LEADERS AND SIGN THIS LETTER URGING CONGRESS TO SHOULD BE THE FARM BILL'S TOP PRIORITY. INVEST IN HEALTHY FOOD. TAKE ACTION NOW. GO TO EWG.ORG