FLORIDA FARMERS INC.
“ A STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL”

PAST SEASONS

The 1995/96 winter vegetable season has proven to be disastrous for the Florida growers, with Mexican vegetables being dumped consistently on the market. In January 1996 the South Florida farmers and suppliers formed a coalition to fight the unfair trade practices, with the future of a vital domestic industry at stake. Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Bob Crawford supported the coalition´s efforts by enacting tougher inspections of Mexican produce, strictly enforcing Florida´s country-of-origin labeling law remedies available to Florida´s growers and suppliers.

In November 1995 U.S Senator Bob Graham, D-FLA, sponsored a bill to amend Section 202 of the Trade Act of 1974, which would allow the International Trade Commission to recognize the seasonal nature of Florida´s vegetable industry and provide relief from import surges. The bill was passed by the Senate in February 1996 and tabled in the House.

Meanwhile, the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, The Florida Tomato Exchange, Florida Farm Bureau, Florida Farmers & Suppliers Coalition and Farm Credit Service of South Florida united to form “Grown in the USA coalition” to heighten public awareness of the problem. Editorials have been written in support of the Florida growers. A letter received on February 23, 1996, from Assistant U.S Trade Representative Suzanne Early assures the Florida Farmers & Suppliers Coalition of great concern about the surge of imports from Mexico and expresses a commitment to find solutions to the problem. (See Appendix D for the full text.)

On March 7 and 8, 1996, Florida industry leaders and advisors met in Dallas, Texas, with Mexican officials and farmers to discuss the situation, with no solutions being found.

On March 11, 1996, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Florida commodity groups filed a complaint with the International Trade Commission to seek emergency import restraints. Under the trade commission process, President Clinton will make the final decision based on the ITC findings after fact gathering hearings. Under the current timetable, that decision will come in late October or early November.