December 4 , 2006

ISSUE 1143

 

HUD DEPUTY SECRETARY TO PRESENT PROTOTYPE MIGRANT HOUSING UNIT TO UF/IFAS

Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Roy Bernardi will officially hand the newly created HUD Migrant Worker Prototype House over to the University of Florida/Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) at the Florida Ag Expo, Friday, December 8, at 10:45 a.m., at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research & Education Center in Balm.

The HUD-funded prototype is the result of two years of work by Florida producers and others to develop quality, cost-effective housing for migrant farmworkers that can withstand the unpredictable Florida weather.

The new homes will be built to withstand a category 4 hurricane. They have two bedrooms and can comfortably house five workers. They also offer superb fire protection, are fairly easy to construct, and cost less than $100 per square foot. The builder, ICS of Florida, will be on hand to answer questions from growers interested in constructing these homes for their workforce.

Mark R. McLellan, dean and director of UF/IFAS’ Agricultural Experiment Station in Gainesville, will officially accept the house on behalf of the university.
Florida Governor Jeb Bush and Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson weres also invited to participate.

Florida Ag Expo, a two-day seminar and trade show aimed at the state’s vegetable and strawberry producers, is a partnership between the University of Florida, Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, Florida Grower magazine, Florida Strawberry Growers Association and the Florida Tomato Committee.

The Expo takes place December 8-9 and will feature seminars, demonstrations, variety trials, and exhibits designed to help growers increase sales, lower costs, and maximize productivity.

For more information and to register, visit www.floridagrower.net or call (407) 539-6552.