Farmer urges clearer language in S.118 to protect small value‑added farm businesses

Paul Ralston, president of Little Village Enterprise, told the Agriculture Committee that language in S.118 restricting accessory on‑farm food processing would be difficult for small vegetable farms to comply with and enforce.

Ralston said the amendment, found on page 15 of S.118, would require that no more than 50% of the sales of a processed farm product come from ingredients grown off the producing farm. He called that measure hard to interpret and enforce and said it could prevent farmers who invest in processing equipment from using purchased ingredients when their own crops fail. "We donated 27,000 somewhat pounds of vegetables," Ralston said, describing his farm's donations to food shelves and shelters and the practical scale of his operation.

Why it matters: Committee members and farmers told the panel the 50% sales test could block small farms from moving into higher‑value, direct‑to‑consumer markets…