U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa) introduced the Fortifying Refrigeration Infrastructure and Developing Global Exports (FRIDGE) Act.

This legislation would direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture to negotiate contracts to deliver needs assessments, training, and other technical assistance to enhance infrastructure construction – including cold chain storage – in new and developing foreign markets.

The FRIDGE Act would add a section promoting infrastructure in the Foreign Market Development (FMD) program, and to fund this paragraph, funds will be authorized at $1 million annually from FY24-28. If there are leftover funds not allocated, those funds will go into the main FMD pot of money for the benefit of all producers and exporting organizations.

“Opening new export markets for our farmers helps increase demand for Iowa agricultural commodities and puts more money in the pockets of our producers. However, goods like Iowa-raised beef, pork, turkeys, chickens, and other perishable products face barriers to foreign markets because of a significant lack of cold-chain storage and other refrigeration infrastructure,” said Rep. Feenstra. “I introduced the FRIDGE Act to make improvements at our ports and construct needed refrigeration infrastructure so that Iowa farmers can ship their high-quality goods across the globe without worrying about spoilage. As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, I will continue to work with the Trump administration to negotiate new trade deals that benefit our producers and end our reliance on only a handful of export markets.”

U.S. Reps. Tracey Mann (R-Kan), Jim Costa (D-Calif.), and Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.) helped introduce this legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

U.S. Senators Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and John Fetterman (D-Pa.) have introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate.

“The Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) strongly supports the FRIDGE Act and thanks Representatives Feenstra, Mann, Costa and Carbajal and Senators Banks and Fetterman for their leadership in introducing this important legislation. Given the current uncertainties with tariffs and trade agreements, developing new markets for U.S. products will be extremely important. One of the biggest barriers to increasing trade in emerging markets is the lack of cold chain capacity. The FRIDGE Act would strengthen the ability of these markets to safely and efficiently receive high-quality U.S. perishable commodities, creating new trade opportunities, improving food security and nutrition, and reducing food loss and waste,” said Sara Stickler, GCCA President and CEO (pictured).