Florida's $100-billion-plus agriculture industry, second only to tourism, is one powerful economic engine. And, Saturday -- declared National Ag Day by Congress -- is a good day to remember that agriculture in the Sunshine State is a formidable employer and an even more impressive producer.
It's a fact: Florida agriculture employs more than 700,000 people and provides 70 percent of the fruits and vegetables grown in the United States. Because of the state's usually steady climate, Florida's growers supply almost all of the nation's domestically grown fruits and vegetables during the winter months.
The Agriculture Council of America hosts the celebratory day in an effort to show consumers the contribution of agriculture in everyday lives. It points out that virtually everything we eat, use or wear every day is grown, manufactured or produced by the agriculture industry.
"People may realize agriculture is responsible for our safe, wholesome food supply, but they may not think about cotton crops necessary for clothes, timber and other basic necessities," said Charles Bronson, Florida's Agriculture and Consumer Services commissioner.
According to the most recent statistics, Florida ranks firstnationally in sales of snap beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, squash and watermelons. The state also ranks first in the production of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines and sugar cane. It places second in sweet corn and strawberries, and fourth in honey.
Nationally, Florida ranks second in the value of vegetables and melonproduction, with cash receipts of $1.4 billion, third in fruit and nuts with receipts of $1.5 billion, fifth in all crops with receipts of $5.4 billion and 10th in total cash receipts.
However, a sustained period of record-breaking cold weather this winter caused catastrophic damage across the breadth of the state's agriculture industry. Bell peppers, snap beans, cabbage, celery, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, escarole, oranges, tangerines, grapefruit, lettuce, radishes, squash, strawberries, tomatoes and sugar cane all suffered immeasurably, according to Sen. Charles "Charlie" Dean Sr., R-Inverness, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee.
"In Miami-Dade County alone, this year's losses have been estimated at more than $250 million," said Charles LaPradd, agriculture manager for Miami-Dade County.
Said Bronson, "We are continuing to monitor the situation in order to better understand what effects the freeze willhaveon agricultural interests."
Nevertheless, he said, Floridians have a right to be proud of their state's food-producing capacity, and should never underestimate its importance to the state economy.
John Hinds can be reached at JHinds1949@aol.com
