Florida Gubernatorial Candidates Should Show Farmers Respect, Get Facts Straight

John S. Hundley, Vice President of family-owned Hundley Farms and President of EAA Farmers, Inc. issued the following statement: “The display at Wednesday night’s Florida Democratic gubernatorial debate was shameful. While the candidates on stage were trying to one up each other to score cheap political points by maligning Florida farmers, we were hard at work past sundown growing the food to feed …

Chefs to Prepare Delectable Delights at Annual Flavors of Florida

Some of Florida’s top chefs will showcase their skills, while featuring Florida’s bountiful agricultural products at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences’ fifth annual Flavors of Florida. Renowned Gainesville chef Bert Gill will lead a team of chefs with Florida producers contributing to the menu. Gill, who owns Blue Gill Quality Foods and Mildred’s Big City …

21 Counties in Florida as Primary Natural Disaster Areas with Assistance to Producers in Georgia

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 21 counties in Florida as primary natural disaster areas due to losses and damages caused by Hurricane Irma that occurred from Sept. 9, 2017, through Sept. 12, 2017. Those counties are: Baker Hamilton Polk Citrus Hernando Putnam Clay Lafayette St. Johns Columbia Levy Seminole Dixie Manatee Suwannee Duval Nassau Union Flagler Pasco …

Agriculture, Environmental Funding Pitched

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam will ask state lawmakers for $75 million next year to fund a depleted program that helps shield agricultural land from development. Meanwhile, Gov. Rick Scott said Thursday he will propose spending $21 million to help struggling citrus growers reeling after Hurricane Irma. “They have one crop a year. With all the wind and the rain, it …

Green Industry Contributes More Than $20B to Florida Economy

Up 19 Percent from 2000 Florida’s environmental horticulture industry is recovering from the recession of 2007 to 2009, and it is growing in many sectors, with $21.8 billion in annual economic contributions. This is an increase of 19.2 percent from 2000, a new University of Florida report shows. The environmental horticulture industry, or the “green industry,” includes landscaping, nurseries, greenhouses, …

Putnam’s Statement Regarding Current Federal Disaster Relief Legislation

The U.S. Senate last night voted to move forward the $36.5 billion disaster relief legislation without additional support for Florida agriculture. Florida’s agriculture industry suffered a more than $2.5 billion hit due to Hurricane Irma. Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam’s statement is below: “I’m disappointed that the current disaster relief legislation does not include much-needed support for Florida’s …

Farmers May Get Loans to Help With Irma Damage

Florida farmers in 44 counties may be eligible for federal loans to help cover damage inflicted by Hurricane Irma, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced. Still, Florida might have to wait months for broader federal assistance to the agriculture industry, which sustained more than $2.5 billion in losses from the storm. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue notified Gov. Rick …