Like many others in our state, I applaud the recent Farm Bill’s inclusion of $1 billion for specialty crop farmers, those growing fresh vegetables and produce as well as beans and legumes. In North Carolina, these are the farmers growing health-promoting crops like sweet potatoes, leafy greens, and beans. I am hopeful that the North Carolina Congressional Delegation and my representative, Rep. Alma Adams, support this aspect of the Farm Bill.
Why is it important to support North Carolina farmers who grow sweet potatoes, strawberries, and other specialty crops? As a pediatrician, I regularly recommend these foods to my young patients and their parents. A healthful plant-based diet can help people improve heart health, lower blood pressure, and maintain a healthy weight. This way of eating has many benefits for children too.
In December, the Trump administration announced the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program that designates $11 billion in aid to farmers who grow row crops like soybeans that are largely fed to animals, but only $1 billion for specialty crop farmers who grow food for human consumption. This disparity makes the North Carolina Congressional Delegation’s support of the Farm Bill’s provision for specialty crop farmers crucial.
A large percentage of soybeans grown in the U.S. are fed to animals. But it is important to note that soybeans are a healthful source of protein for people. Including soy foods in your diet is associated with reduced risk of heart disease, and the isoflavones in soy are also helpful for bone health.
One of my favorite high-protein snacks is edamame beans, which are immature soybeans with a slightly sweet flavor. They are usually steamed or boiled and can be enjoyed on their own as a snack or added to salads, soups, or grain bowls. A half cup of whole edamame beans provides 8 grams of protein and a good amount of fiber, calcium, iron, and vitamin C. As a health professional, I’d recommend edamame as a delicious way you can get high-quality protein.
Many North Carolina farmers find it challenging to hire enough workers to cultivate and harvest the crops, and slaughterhouses also experience labor shortages. The current administration’s immigration policies can make workers even scarcer.
The current shortage of agricultural workers highlights another advantage of focusing on specialty crops and plant-based protein sources like lentils and black beans; they require fewer workers to produce. A recent study by researchers at Oxford University found that fewer workers are required to produce plant-based foods. This makes sense because it’s more efficient to raise food for people to eat directly rather than hire workers to raise crops to feed to animals and then employ another set of workers to slaughter the animals.
Our state is extremely successful at berry production. In fact, North Carolina is among our country’s top producers of strawberries and blueberries, both of which I often hear from parents are favorites among their kids. Berries have been studied extensively by nutrition researchers who hope to pinpoint what makes them so incredibly beneficial to our health—especially brain health.
A study published in Annals of Neurology found that higher intake of flavonoids, particularly from berries, appears to reduce rates of cognitive decline in older adults. In other words, blueberries and strawberries help you stay sharp as you age.
This illustrates the importance of government funding for specialty crop farmers like blueberry and strawberry farmers and others who produce healthful food in our state. The $1 billion for specialty crop farmers that is part of the 2026 Farm Bill is a good start and deserves the support of North Carolina’s members of Congress.
Hence then, the article about a pediatrician s perspective support of specialty crop farmers in farm bill is good for our health was published today ( ) and is available on NC news line ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( A Pediatrician’s Perspective: Support of Specialty Crop Farmers in Farm Bill Is Good For Our Health )
Also on site :