News from FFI

Compensation for growers won't be easy, but it can't be any harder than the last few weeks. This just slid across the inbox, from Florida Farmers:

GADSDEN TOMATO GROWERS JOIN FLORIDA FARMERS, INC.

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Paul DiMare, Chairman of Florida Farmers, Inc.(FFI) announced today that tomato growers in Gadsden County, FL. have joined FFI. Also Billy Don Grant of Quincy Tomato Co. and Gadsden Tomato Co. and William Maxwell, president of Gadsden Tomato Growers Association have accepted appointment to the Board of Directors of FFI.

“We welcome their affiliation and support. The North Florida Growers have recently suffered severe losses as the result of the inactions of the Food &Drug Administration (FDA). FDA announced in early June that the country was suffering from a Salmonella outbreak caused by tomatoes, almost three weeks later the FDA added cilantro, and various types of hot peppers to the list of suspect produce. Now, it seems that tomatoes may not have been involved in the first place,” DiMare said.

“A number of growers in Southwest Florida have also sustained severe losses as the result of the Salmonella outbreak. Consumer confidence has dropped and as a result of the apparent inability of the federal government to handle the issue in a competent, prompt and fair manner. Sales are down 30 to 40 percent, primarily as a result of slow and inconclusive response by our federal government.”

FFI is an advocacy organization of and for Florida winter vegetable farmers that was established in 1996 as an aggressive response to failed U.S. trade policies, such as NAFTA that have forced over 300 winter vegetable farmers out of business since 1994. Florida winter vegetable farmers provide about 50% of the winter vegetables to American consumers. Mexico is the other primary source.

The Florida winter vegetable is a sensitive and strategic food industry and the protection mechanism in NAFTA has not worked. FFI provides leadership to address critical issues, including:

Legal remedies for dumping of foreign produce

Public awareness of food safety

Passage and implementation of country of origin labeling(COOL)legislation

Progressive action for affordable housing for farm workers

Immigration reform that protects national security and provides for a legal and stable farm workforce.

Environmental, energy and growth management policy for sustaining vegetable farming in Florida

And now added to this list:

Accountability of the federal government for loss and damage suffered as a result of mishandling the Salmonella issue.