Florida Produce Industry Embracing Progress, Confronting Challenges

Water, school nutrition, research, and defending agriculture were key topics of Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam’s “State of the Industry” address that kicked off FFVA’s recent 71st Annual Convention in Naples. His remarks set the tone for an event that focused on immediate challenges as well as the future success of Florida agriculture.

Putnam began by announcing that FFVA has joined the Fresh From Florida program, which markets Florida’s agricultural products. Through the association’s membership in the program, all of FFVA’s producer members have access to numerous tools in the program to help market their products.
The commissioner discussed the success of the Farm to School Program, which puts fresh Florida produce on school lunch plates. “We’re having a lot of success,” he said, adding that USDA now points to Florida’s program as the “ultimate measure” of what works. With 4.3 million school meals a day, 180 days a year, “at the end of the day, it’s a success for our kids,” he said.

Up For A Fight

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Putnam emphasized his signature theme that far and away, water is the state’s biggest issue. “Everybody needs to hear that Florida has long-term water challenges that we have to address. We have an opportunity during the upcoming legislative session to do something about it,” he said.
He also pointed to several key battles against plant pests and diseases. “We’re fighting a rear-guard battle on giant African land snails and protecting the avocado industry,” he said, referring to laurel wilt disease that threatens the South Florida crop. Research on citrus greening is a “race against the clock,” he added. Putnam highlighted the need for a strong partnership with the University of Florida and applied research that can help the industry overcome these threats. “The nature of our problems requires that the land grant university system in Florida helps us. We have to have robust support to survive, thrive and expand our industry.”

Politics On The Plate

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During the traditional “Cracker Breakfast,” Bloomberg Politics managing editor Mark Halperin led attendees on a tour through the tangled web of presidential politics. The veteran journalist gave his take on the Obama presidency and the 2016 election.

Mark Halperin addresses attendees at the 2014 FFVA Annual Convention. Photo by Mary Hartney

Mark Halperin addresses attendees at the 2014 FFVA Annual Convention.
Photo by Mary Hartney

On Obama: “He’s not a guy who loves this job.” The president is thinking about his legacy, Halperin said, because all of his major accomplishments came during his first term. And all were accomplished with only Democratic votes or almost exclusively Democratic votes, he pointed out. Halperin said Obama hasn’t changed the culture of Washington as he wanted; in fact, he said, “This president is more polarizing than his two predecessors.”
However, Obama is a great politician when he focuses, Halperin said. “My sense is that he does just enough of what he wants to do to get things done. That’s kept him from building the coalitions you need to make major change.”

On the upcoming presidential election, Halperin gave a laundry list of potential GOP candidates. “You’ve got a Republican party that has no frontrunner,” he said. The top five “establishment” candidates he cited were New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, and Ohio Sen. Rob Portman.

Halperin said Bush is the one “everyone’s waiting for. He’s an extraordinary guy. He was a unifying figure in this state, and he’s an incredibly talented policy person. He was a serious, strong governor. But he’s out of practice, and his family doesn’t seem interested in his running.
“I think Gov. (Mitt) Romney will run if these guys don’t, but can he beat Hillary Clinton?” he asked. “My colleagues are all sure she will run. I’m not sure she will. I want to wait until after her grandchild is born … Is she really the right person to bring the country together? If she does run, she’s formidable,” he said, “I think she’ll clear the field.”

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