FLORIDA FARMERS INC.
(Formerly known as Florida Farmers Suppliers Coalition)

Florida Farmers Inc. (FFI) is a nonprofit 501 (c) (6) association organized under the laws of the state of Florida. FFI was formed in January 1996 by angry farmers and ranchers frustrated with the trade policies of the U.S. government. FFI is run by a twelve member board of directors. Its chairman supervises all association activities on a day to day basis, thus responding to any problems that may arise without delay or bureaucratic red tape.

Florida Farmers Inc. has no employees. The board of directors enters into an agreement once a year with one or more governmental consultants to carry out an aggressive agenda and action plan set by its members. FFI is an advocacy organization of growers for growers and by growers, and it depends solely on contributions from growers and agricultural suppliers for its financial support.

FFI is focused mainly on the trade and trade related issues. Since the NAFTA agreement was enacted, over 300 Florida winter vegetable operations have gone out of business. Florida winter vegetable farmers have lost over $1 billion in sales since 1994. FFI believes that a more aggressive approach is needed in dealing with the trade issue. The Florida winter vegetable industry is a sensitive and strategic food industry. The protection mechanism in NAFTA has not worked. Our government must provide protection in the form of tariffs and quotas or propose a buyout program for injured producers. FFI has built allegiances with consumer, labor, and environmental groups across the country to inform the American consumer about the difference between U.S. grown produce and produce grown in third world countries. FFI scored a major victory in May of 2002 when Congress passed the 2002 Farm Bill with a mandatory country-of-origin labeling provision for fruits, vegetables, meats and fish effective September 30, 2004. FFI had lead the fight for country-of-origin labeling and recruited over 200 farm, consumer and environmental groups from New York to California to work on this project since January of 1996. FFI spent over $1.5 million on this issue during the same period.