The July issue of Specialty Crop Industry Magazine highlights WP Rawl, a leading vegetable business in South Carolina that has thrived for nearly 100 years. Ashley Rawl, a third-generation family member and vice president of sales, marketing and product development, talks about the secret to his company’s success. It has had a willingness to adapt to the changing economic climate.
Michael Schadler, executive vice president of the Florida Tomato Exchange, focuses on this year’s tomato season and the ongoing trade concerns with Mexico. He highlights the suspension agreement concerning Mexican imports and the impact technology has had on the industry.
Florida’s legislative session has ended, leaving agriculture with a large piece of the budget pie. The Florida Legislature passed a record budget of $116.5 billion, wrapping up on May 5. Ag-related items include the new immigration policy, HB 1279 and its benefits to growers and SB 264, which restricts the role certain foreign countries have with respect to land ownership in Florida. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences also benefited from the record-setting session.
Georgia’s legislative session led to new laws being enacted. HB 189 will increase truck weights in rural Georgia. HB 545, a new Agricultural Commodity Commission for Citrus, and SB 220, the Georgia Farmland Conservation Fund, were also established. Will Bentley, president of the Georgia Agribusiness Council, discusses each of the legislative wins for the state’s producers.