FFVA’s Board of Directors heard two presentations at its Jan. 11 meeting in Celebration that focused on the future of Florida and how it affects those in the agriculture industry.
Steve Seibert, executive director of the Century Commission for a Sustainable Florida, told the board that its annual report outlined a number of recommendations for 2008. Those included ensuring an adequate and reliable water supply, pursuing new conservation methods, designing sustainable communities and buildings, and monitoring progress on energy security and greenhouse gas emission reduction.
In the second presentation, Ryan Houck, political director for Floridians for Smarter Growth, called the efforts of Hometown Democracy a case of the right problem and the wrong solution. He explained his organization’s strategy to battle the initiative and called on those present to do their part in the fight.
Also meeting in Celebration were FFVA’s committees and the Florida Specialty Crop Foundation, in its first meeting since adding three new board members in November. Those board members are: Bishop Thomas Wenski of the Diocese of Orlando; Dan Richey, CEO of Riverfront Packing Co. and president of Gulfstream Harvesting; and Bill Mang of SunTrust Bank’s commercial dealer services division.
GROUNDWORK LAID FOR TRACEABILITY INITIATIVE
The steering committee of the Produce Traceability Initiative, an industry-led effort to adopt traceability throughout the produce supply chain, met for the first time Jan. 9 in Atlanta to develop an action plan for establishing industry traceability best practices and goals for their adoption and accountability.
The initiative was launched in October by the Produce Marketing Association, Canadian Produce Marketing Association, and United Fresh Produce Association.
The committee concluded that systematic and consistent application of common standards across the supply chain is needed to enhance chain-wide traceability, building the next critical step beyond many of the excellent internal traceability systems that exist within many different companies.
FFVA BOARD MEMBER TO BE FEATURED IN CNN IMMIGRATION STORY
FFVA Board Member John Stickles hosted CNN’s Miami correspondent John Zarrella Jan. 14, answering questions about the agriculture industry’s need for a dependable, legal workforce. Stickles, general manager of Dover-based Florida Pacific Farms, discussed the H-2A program, which he uses to obtain workers. The piece is part of a series leading up to the Florida primary elections covering issues of interest to the state. It is scheduled to air on “The Situation Room” program sometime this week.
IFAS OFFERS CLASSES FOR WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE
The University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences will hold a series of empowerment classes for women in agriculture in February. Participants in “Annie’s Project” receive training in financial records, production records, marketing plans, risk management, legal regulations, and human resources. The program will be offered in six lessons spanning three weeks beginning Feb. 5.
Cost is $50, which covers class supplies and refreshments. Class size is limited and pre-registration is required by Feb. 1. Contact Suwannee County Extension at (386) 362-2771 or Columbia County Extension at (386) 752-5384 for more information or to register for the class.
