Specialty crops in Georgia and Florida are being under attack with imports from Mexico and it’s causing a major problem.
Tyler Harper, the Commissioner of Agriculture for Georgia, said as produce imports from Mexico continue to rise, American farmers face strong competition pressure all the time. He said in a letter he sent to the negotiator that it raises significant concerns regarding economic impact, regulatory requirements, and national security. He said a third round of the negotiations this past week we hope will give some help.
He said fresh fruit and vegetable imports from Mexico have increased by more than 550 percent since 2001. He said these imports frequently enter the U.S. market during peak harvest periods, depressing the price and forcing American growers to compete against producers operating under substantially different labor, different environmental requirements, and regulatory standards. They’re hoping that they can solve some problems not only on regular ideas but labor costs as well.
Mexican wages remain significantly lower than those paid by American growers.
Audio Reporting by Tyron Spearman for Southeast AgNet.