The Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA) issued a statement following Thursday’s U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) hearing regarding the impact of imports on the Southeast domestic cucumber and squash crops. The statement read:
“Today’s hearing was a positive development in our ongoing efforts to secure trade relief for Florida growers. For decades, unfair trade practices from Mexico and other foreign sources have caused immense harm to produce growers in Florida, including significant lost sales and market share, unsustainably low unfair prices, and shuttered family farms.
“Trade relief is desperately needed, not only for our cucumber and squash growers, but for our bell pepper, strawberry, blueberry, and other Florida produce sectors that are also facing harmful impacts and a highly uncertain future due to unfair imports. We continue to see imports from Mexico crippling growers of more than 20 other specialty crops in Florida.
“We commend the International Trade Commission for working to help solve this longstanding and growing threat to the Southeast produce industry. Effective, swift relief is needed to give our Florida produce growers a future and ensure that American families are not dependent on foreign imports for their produce supplies during the winter and spring months of the year.”