Florida Strawberry Members

Welcome to the home of the freshest, most delicious strawberries in the world. Enjoy fresh Florida strawberries, available December through April.

Florida Strawberries on Target

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From The Produce News:

Florida strawberry workers picking fresh berries in the early morning. These berries go directly from the plant to the clamshell.
Florida strawberry workers picking fresh berries in the early morning. These berries go directly from the plant to the clamshell.

Shipments of Florida strawberries began in mid-November in a light way with much greater volume expected by the week of Dec. 8, which is right on target, according to Kenneth Parker of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association.

“We typically run from November through March,” said the association’s newly appointed executive director, adding that the crop can also be harvested and shipped into April if market conditions warrant it.

…

Parker relayed that Florida growers are bullish about this season and the long-term prospects for the local strawberry industry. For quite some time, the industry has had an aggressive breeding program with the University of Florida, and some very promising varieties are being developed in that program.

Continue reading from the original article.

The Ag Workforce Coalition

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Agriculture Workforce CoalitionThe Agriculture Workforce Coalition represents the diverse needs of agricultural employers across the country and serves as a unified voice to ensure America’s farmers, ranchers and growers have access to a stable and secure workforce. The Lembert Report shares this news:

Some industries and businesses cannot survive without foreign workers, and for labor-intensive agriculture in California, their presence is especially critical. There is another key demographic in America: the 100 percent of people who eat. They require human hands to plant, harvest, pack and deliver fresh fruit, vegetables and tree nuts to their plates every day. Machines have yet to be invented that can pick strawberries or celery, and these and other crops are in danger of rotting in the field without timely harvesting.

For example, according to a 2012 survey by the California Farm Bureau, 71% of tree fruit growers, and nearly 80% of raisin and berry growers, were unable to find an adequate number of employees to prune trees or vines or pick the crop. In 2008, Texas A&M reported that 77% of vegetable farmers reported scaling back operations. More than 80,000 acres of fresh produce that used to be grown in California have been moved to other countries. Without immigration reform, estimates are that thousands of farms could fail and farm income could drop by $5 to $9 billion.

Continue reading at Food, Nutrition & Science.

Farm Bureau Legislative Reception

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Sue Harrell, Miranda Mayo, Morgan Boykin, and Glenda McNary at the Florida Farm Bureau 2013 Annual Legislative Days
Sue Harrell, Miranda Mayo, Morgan Boykin, and Glenda McNary at the Florida Farm Bureau 2013 Annual Legislative Days.

Florida Farm Bureau’s 2013 Annual Legislative Days were held this March. The activities started with a briefing dinner for Farm Bureau members on March 18 at the Tallahassee Automobile Museum including Governor Scott’s State of the State address.

The Florida Strawberry Growers Association, with the help of Sue Harrell, Morgan Boykin, Miranda Mayo, and Glenda McNary, dipped over 1,000 strawberries and served them to Farm Bureau guests and state legislators at the annual Farm Bureau Legislative Reception in Tallahassee on March 20.

A legislative reception, including a 4-H awareness auction, was held at the Tallahassee/Leon County Civic Center on March 19.

These events provide an opportunity for Farm Bureau members to discuss public policy issues with state lawmakers and executive department officials in an informal setting. Popular topics of discussion were:

Representative Jake Raburn with Florida Strawberry Growers Association Ambassadors Morgan and Miranda.
Representative Jake Raburn with Florida Strawberry Growers Association Ambassadors Morgan and Miranda.

Agritourism:

  • SB 1106 – Sen. Alan Hays, Senate Committees of Reference: Agriculture, Community Affairs, Rules
  • HB 927 – Rep. Holly Rasche, in House Committees of Reference: Agriculture & Natural Resources, Civil Justice, State Affairs

This legislation seeks to prevent local governments from regulating agritourism activities on land that is classified agricultural and provide limited liability protection for injuries caused by inherent risks. These bills link agritourism activities specifically to bona fide agricultural operations and stipulate that signs warning the public of inherent risks must be visable.

Water Supply

  • SB 948 – Sen. Denise Grimsley, Senate Committees of Reference: Environmental Preservation and Conservation
  • HB 1063 – Rep. Travis Hutson, House Committees of Reference: Agriculture & Natural Resources, Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations, State Affairs

This legislation seeks to balance the expanding role of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) in the regional water supply planning process. Specifically, these bills would allow FDACS to collaborate with federal agencies and universities to provide estimates of agricultural acreage and crop water use, putting agriculture on a level playing field with municipalities and utilities. Additionally, these bills require that water management districts consider data provided by FDACS when determining the needs of agricultural supply.

Participants were given the opportunity to enjoy local food and network with Florida agricultural producers in honor of National Ag Day.

National Ag Day is a day to recognize and celebrate the abundance provided by agrilculture. Every year, producers, agricultural associations, corportaions, universities, government agencies and counteless others across America join together to recognize the contributions of agriculture.

In related news, the tenth annual Florida Agriculture Literacy Day is scheduled for Tuesday, April 30, 2013. Florida Agriculture in the Classroom, Inc., invites Florida agricultural producers and other volunteers to read its newest storybook, Florida’s Farm History, to elementary school children to help students understand agriculture. The book helps celebrate 500 years of Florida Agriculture History.

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About Florida Winter Strawberries

In 1980, a few strawberry growers began meeting in their homes to discuss the best way to organize a group that would represent the interests of the Florida strawberry industry. On February 11, 1982, the Florida Strawberry Growers Association (FSGA) was born. Hillsborough County is recognized as the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World and the home of some of the sweetest, reddest and juiciest strawberries around.

Get Connected

Florida Strawberry Growers Association
P.O. Box: 2550
Plant City, FL 33564
Telephone: 813-752-6822
Fax: 813-752-216

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