The Florida Bamboo Growers Association (FBGA) recently held its second annual meeting at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Wimauma. The meeting was well attended and provided educational content for its burgeoning membership.
The association is growing quickly, expanding its membership by 63% from the first year. FBGA now has 85 members. The association has accomplished its major objectives for the first year, having established a website (FBGAbamboo.com) for the dissemination and exchange of information, and it launched key research projects to supply information needed to grow and expand this new industry.
Don Rockwood of Florida Fast Growing Trees presented his latest findings on bamboo production, covering its use as a food crop (shoots) and for wood production. Davie Kadyampakeni, an associate professor with UF/IFAS, updated the association on his work to fine-tune bamboo irrigation and nutrition.
FBGA President Kevin Barley presented data on viability of bamboo shoot production as a food crop, which would have a strong market in Florida due to the state’s Asian population and the food’s growing popularity with consumers. It was noted that a key priority will be building markets for bamboo that is currently in production.
The association held its annual elections, and Barley was re-elected president. Barley said he clearly believes in the potential of Florida bamboo production and has committed significant time and resources to establish and expand the association’s operations.
FBGA members expressed their commitment to continued exchange of information among independent companies of varying size and focus in the coming year. UF/IFAS has come onboard with the association to provide the research component needed to achieve efficiencies in production and long-term profitability. Member companies have made their farms available for research purposes.