Indian River County Extension Service
                                     1028 20th Pl, Suite D
                                     Vero Beach, FL 32960
                                           772-770-5030
                                     Indian@mail.ifas.ufl.edu

 

Judith A. Wakefield
February 2, 2003

Thank you Florida’s Farmers and Ranchers 

From the traffic on our roads you can tell that our northern visitors are here.  Welcome! We’ve had more cool weather this year so far than usual, but it’s still more comfortable than most other states.

The same weather that draws people to Florida during the winter is also responsible for the fact that eighty percent of the fresh vegetables grown in the U.S. during January, February, and March each year come from Florida.  Florida is the fresh winter vegetable plate of the United States.  It grows more than 4.7 billion pounds of fresh vegetables, melons and berries. Much of it is grown in counties south of us.  When they have a freeze in these counties the price of vegetables like green peppers increases until a new crop is produced.    Years ago families raised gardens and canned or froze fruits and vegetables because fresh produce wasn’t available in the grocery stores “out of season.” Now thanks to Florida farmers people all over the country can expect fresh produce all year. 

According to Florida Farm Bureau, there are 44,000 farmers in Florida and they grow 280 different crops on a commercial scale. Their cash receipts total over seven billion dollars,

Here in Indian River County we are well aware that citrus is one of the leading crops grown in Florida.  Florida is the leader of citrus production in the U.S., accounting for more than eighty two percent of US production. But Florida also produces and sells more tomatoes, sweet corn, snap beans, cucumbers, radishes and okra than any other state in the U.S.   Other important agricultural crops are foliage plants, sugar cane, milk, cattle, chickens, green peppers, and strawberries.  Florida farmers work hard to ensure that grocery shelves are well-stocked for their families, friends and neighbors because they do not just grow the crops, they shop for their families too.   

For each dollar we spend on food (including eating out) only twenty cents actually goes to the farmer or rancher.  Twenty years ago farmers received thirty one cents out of every dollar spent on food.  Eighty cents of each dollar we spend for food goes for marketing expenses associated with processing, wholesaling, distributing and retailing the food products. 

In other countries, such as Japan, consumers must spend about fifty one cents out of each dollar just to buy  food. 

We expect our food to be safe, abundant, we want variety and low-cost.  True, some of our produce comes from South America, but let’s support our own farmers as much as possible, after all our standards for production and food safety are higher than those from other countries.

Through education and training our Florida farmers have become experienced in using crop protectants responsibly and in keeping chemical use to a minimum. These chemicals are very expensive and farmers want to use the minimum amount that will give us the highest quality fruits and vegetables possible.  They have no desire to over-use fertilizers and pesticides. Without the use of at least some chemicals, the food supply would be less abundant, more costly and of lower quality.  Farmers and ranchers respect the laws and regulations governing chemical use, have a personal obligation to their families, consumers and the land to use chemicals wisely and safely. quality.

People who move to Florida and try to grow their own vegetable gardens are usually surprised to learn that you can’t plant a successful  garden to grow during the summertime, it’s too hot.  Some of the crops need cool weather for the “fruit” to set.  This writer’s father was an avid gardener and managed to grow sweet potatoes and Cuban squash during the summer, but that’s about all. The Cuban squash vines insisted on not only covering the garden plot, but tried to cover the grass in the yard too!  He was surprised when he did have a good sweet potato crop under the squash vines.  We actually have two vegetable growing seasons, fall and spring.  When we have a mild winter gardeners can get fall, early spring and later spring crops off the same land.  The County Extension Service has information on suggested planting dates for Florida gardens.

We should have more appreciation for the hard work our Florida farmers and ranchers put into making sure not only we, but families across the country have a variety of high quality  fresh fruits and vegetables available year ‘round.  When you come in contact with a farmer, say “Thank You.”

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