Florida strawberry farmers say Mexico imports threaten their future

HILLBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — The Florida Strawberry Competition in Plant Metropolis continues by way of this weekend — a time to have fun one of many sweetest industries within the state. Nonetheless, it is also a time to spotlight the struggles native farmers are going by way of now.

“Yearly since COVID has had a rise of wherever from 10 to fifteen%. So we’re at a 30% improve proper now,” stated Matt Parke, a fourth technology strawberry farmer in Plant Metropolis.

Although they’re promoting extra as folks have grow to be extra well being acutely aware from the pandemic, Parke stated it isn’t sufficient to battle inflation.

However that is not the largest drawback plaguing the business; farmers say it is berries from throughout the border.

“Our largest menace is Mexico. You understand, we’re having to take care of the inflow of berries pouring throughout the, throughout the southern border into the USA.”

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Florida is the second largest strawberry-producing state within the U.S., after California, at a worth of greater than $300 million, in accordance with the College of Florida Institute of Meals and Agricultural Sciences.

In-depth stats from the Florida Division of Agriculture and Shopper Providers present that from 2001 to 2021, Florida misplaced practically 32% of the strawberry market share throughout the U.S., whereas Mexico gained 240%.

“The issue is whenever you’re getting numerous product popping out of from one other nation, that grows it a lot cheaper. They do not have the identical guidelines. Their authorities subsidizes them big. Their labor might be 15% of what ours prices, and labor is our highest price,” defined David Hill, Chair of the Florida Fruits and Greens Affiliation (FFVA). “It makes it very troublesome to attempt to keep in enterprise.”

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One other examine by the College of Florida in 2018 discovered that U.S. farms paid strawberry pickers wherever from $1.75 to $3 for a flat of berries, relying on the season. That is in comparison with Mexico, which spent 15 pesos or a couple of greenback per flat.

“I really feel like possibly within the subsequent 10 to fifteen years, Mexico goes to personal our vegetable and fruit market, and we’re not going to be rising in the USA anymore,” Parke pressured. “We’ll depend upon the international nation to ship us with all of our fruit and veggies.”

Hill stated he agrees that the native farms might go extinct within the subsequent decade.

Hill additionally runs Southern Hill Farms and stated he, like many different small farms, has added “U-Decide” operations to carry locals in for the expertise of selecting produce themselves.

“It is nearly secure to say that we’d like the federal authorities to step in to save lots of Florida farmers, all farmers,” ABC Motion Information Reporter Stassy Olmos requested Hill.

“What we have been asking the federal authorities is to step in and regulate not simply what we do, however the quantity of provide coming in from different international locations. And we have to discover that mark… and both or not permit it to go over that mark or put tariffs on it if it does go over the mark,” Hill exclaimed.

Whereas farmers hope and pray for federal assist, they are saying the one factor that U.S. shoppers can do is test the labels earlier than they purchase.

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“We’d like, not simply my household enterprise, however any agricultural household enterprise in the USA, wants the USA Shopper to purchase regionally grown meals,” Parke stated.

The Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, Wilton Simpson, stated in an electronic mail assertion:

“The federal authorities’s present insurance policies are one of many largest hindrances to the continued success of Florida’s farmers and ranchers. As Commissioner of Agriculture, l will proceed to advocate for commonsense issues in these insurance policies that acknowledge Florida’s vital position in feeding our state, nation, and planet.”

We additionally contacted the USA Division of Agriculture to ask what they’re doing to assist native farmers survive with elevated imports. Sadly, we didn’t obtain a response.

Parkesdale Farms plans to promote its strawberries in Publix shops subsequent 12 months. Proper now, they’re obtainable in a number of states outdoors of Florida and at their native produce market Parkesdale Market.

Click on right here to see the USDA weekly shipments of strawberries within the U.S.

Click on right here to learn the newest general farm forecast from the USDA.