Crops & Markets
Doug OhlemeierLiz Esformes (from left), vice president and co-owner of Pacific Tomato Growers Ltd., talks with Steven Machell, sales manager for Gulf Coast Produce Inc., and Gary Wishnatzki, president and chief executive officer of Wish Farms, during the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association convention Sept. 19 in Palm Beach, Fla. PALM BEACH, Fla. — Labor availability, regulations and increasing production costs dominated discussions during the opening day of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association convention.
Produce industry leaders gave their takes on issues pressing the fresh fruit and vegetable sector during a Sept. 19 state of industry roundtable discussion.
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam received a big round of applause when he pinpointed the problem of over-regulation.
“More than anything else, we have to have a sea change in regulatory approaches that are our No. 1 threat now,” he said. “More than any pest or disease, it’s our own government.”
Tony DiMare, vice president of the DiMare Co., Homestead, said numerous on-farm issues such as battling pests and diseases and lack of resources to fight them.
“The agriculture industry certainly is in a very difficult time,” he said. “The issues that keep me up at night are many. All these issues are not only challenges but come at a very expensive cost. For tomatoes, the cost of production is $15,000 an acre, when you factor in depreciation.
Our margins are continually shrinking such that there is a question as to whether we have a future in the tomato industry. We’d like to think there are some opportunities but whether they’re viable or not, we aren’t sure.”
On a positive note, Tom Stenzel, president and chief executive officer of the United Fresh Produce Association, Washington, D.C., said the Childhood Nutrition Act, which overhauls the school meals program, mandates an extra serving of fruits and vegetables in school lunches. He said the anti-childhood obesity effort and increased movement of produce in schools should benefit Florida growers.
“I really think we are at a breakthrough moment in terms of consumption,” Stenzel said. “We are finally focused on where it counts, with the kids. The schools are going to be a major factor.
Florida is ideally positioned for the school year. Florida production may not be local to some of those Michigan schools, but where else will they get it? The winter production season because of this focus on kids will be a good opportunity for you.”
Sept. 20 sessions are scheduled to cover water policy and labor legislation and regulations.
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Comments (5)
Leave a commentRobert Richardson, Ph.D.
Report AbuseThis is complete rubbish. Regulation means doing things correctly, not cutting corners and serving up illegal residues or using serf labor mechanisms. If the public cannot afford high quality produce, switch to another crop. However, I have not seen any reduction in retail prices lately, and if growers cannot make a profit, stop growing that crop and let the market suffer.
Steve Scaroni
Report AbuseLet me make a wild guess here.. the good DOCTOR Robert Richardson PHD has NEVER had to make a payroll or run a business. It's these intellectual giants and there "rubbish" ideas (and the fact our politcos actually listen to them) of what it takes to run a USA business is why this California / Arizona Veg producer has already off shored 25% of business to Mexico and continues to decrease USA operation and increase Mexico operations.
Robert Richardson, Ph.D.
Report AbuseThis is complete rubbish. Regulation means doing things correctly, not cutting corners and serving up illegal residues or using serf labor mechanisms. If the public cannot afford high quality produce, switch to another crop. However, I have not seen any reduction in retail prices lately, and if growers cannot make a profit, stop growing that crop and let the market suffer.
John
Report AbuseThis comment has been deleted.
Steve Scaroni
Report Abuseplease.. Call him by his entitled name of DOCTOR. While most of us folks were out sweating making payroll n building our business's he was probably a frat boy at a college getting educated.
Also as a farm owner in Mexico your assessment of how we farm in Mexico is about as right as the good DOCTORS assessment of what regulation does to USA Ag.
Doug
Report AbuseDo these ad hominem attacks really advance your arguments, Steve and John? How about arguing on the merits?