But now things have changed.  Over the pasty few years, bridges have been carefully built, and the public health community has come to better understand that tobacco producers, their families and the people in their communities have a very different set of values than do the tobacco companies.

In some states, entire communities rely on income from their tobacco crops.  This dependence on a single, controversial crop makes growers vulnerable.  And yet, as we see today, they are seeking new ways to provide for themselves and their families.  That openness and courage requires that we in public health commit ourselves to work in partnership with producers and their families.  We must create the support and the transitions that are needed as well as work together to prevent the next generation of kids from using tobacco and as tobacco consumption eventually declines.

The remarkable dialogue that has taken place, particularly over the past several months, has opened up new opportunities for partnership and for meaningful change that will benefit both sides. We in public health will have growers support and assistance in reducing youth tobacco addiction, and farmers and their communities will have new options and opportunities for the future.

In looking at the core principles from the standpoint of public health, there are very important elements that the tobacco producers have agreed to support. First and foremost is the authority of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate the manufacture, sale, distribution, labeling and advertising of tobacco products comparable to the FDA's regulation of other legal products.

This is a significant area of understanding. It wasn't long ago that the tobacco companies were conducting a disinformation campaign to try to convince farmers that the FDA was going to send agents to seize their tobacco crops, their equipment and indeed, their farms.

Now the growers, in dialogue with public health advocates, have come to accept the role of the FDA with regard to agricultural production. FDA should have full authority over the manufactured tobacco product. Where there are public health and safety issues related to agricultural production, FDA should use the authority it already has, and to work as necessary with other agencies, such as Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Agriculture. Thus, tobacco agriculture oversight by the FDA would and should be the same as its authority over other agricultural production -- nothing more, nothing less. As part of this, the growers and the public health signatories to the principles also agree that FDA and the public should have access to relevant industry documents.

Second, there is agreement between us that we want strong, effective regulations and laws at national, state, and local levels to drive down youth tobacco use and ensure that tobacco products are not marketed, sold or otherwise made available to kids. America's tobacco farmers are saying that they are ready and willing to work with us and anyone else to prevent America's kids from using tobacco products. We truly welcome this partnership.

Third, we have assured the tobacco producers that the public health community is not advocating a ban on tobacco products for adults. It has long been a public relations canard of the tobacco companies that prohibition is just around the corner. We do believe, as do the farm organizations, that prohibition should apply to children, and that adults are entitled to full and accurate information about cigarettes and other tobacco products.

Fourth, we jointly agree that, just as manufactured tobacco should be subjected to health and safety controls, so too should the agricultural product be subject to controls. Pesticide residue standards and other quality controls for domestic tobacco should be equally applied to foreign tobacco that enters this country.

And finally, the public health community working hard to increase federal tobacco excise taxes. We are pleased to know that if such tax increases are passed, we would have the support of America's tobacco growers to apply tax money to public health initiatives and to programs to assist tobacco producers. And, of course, increased taxes mean increased prices at retail, which is a critical part of an overall program to reduce youth consumption.

We all want tobacco farmers and their communities to be fully included and to play an active role in achieving comprehensive national tobacco control legislation. Working together, we present a strong new alliance that will bring about a brighter future for tobacco farmers, for our children and for America's good health.