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Things looking up for farmers

Bradenton Herald – March 27, 2011

Farmers are breathing a sigh of relief as the long, freeze-plagued winter fades, and some of them are even rehiring laid-off workers.

“We ended up having five freezes this year, and for us, every time we have the threat of a freeze it costs us $10,000 to $12,000 in labor,” said Darrell Turner, president of Turner Tree & Landscape, of Bradenton.

Turner said his landscape business, however, with 1,200 acres producing young palms and oaks, suffered much less damage this year than last.

And the economy seems to be improving, too, he added.

“We’re looking for laborers and equipment operators,” Turner said. “We’re up 10-12 percent, and hired back 26 people, and this year looks a lot more promising than last year,” he said of his firm, which dropped from 180 workers to 80, and now employs about 110.

Mike Morgan, owner of Morgan Farms at 6441 U.S. 19 in Terra Ceia, is also hiring farmworkers.

Morgan, a fifth-generation farmer who grows fruits and vegetables, is planning to expand this year into organic produce.

He’s hoping to add a line of unusual items, such as purple carrots and purple potatoes.

“We’re thinking exotic,” he said with a chuckle.

He is also adding to the home-grown bounty he sells at his farm store the creamy milk made locally by another familiar Manatee County business, Dakin Dairy.

On the negative side, the price of fuel has spiked.

“Our fuel costs are up $1,000 extra a week,” Turner said.

The shipping volume of most fruits and vegetables has recovered from winter freezes, but some categories are still lagging, according to information supplied by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Shipments of round tomatoes were up 40 percent compared to last year, while cucumber volume was down about 40 percent, the department said.

Manatee County farmers raised almost a third of the 32,400 acres planted in tomatoes in the state, according to 2010 figures from the department. The county also is a top cucumber producer, officials have said.

The weather has been beautiful for 45 days, a blessing for tomato farmers, said Bob Spencer, co-owner of West Coast Tomato LLC, based in Palmetto.

“We anticipate pretty good crops in the Manatee area. It doesn’t necessarily equate to a good market, but it should be good yields,” he said.

Tomato farmers in the area are mostly finished planting, he said, and won’t begin harvesting until April 20 through mid-June.

Asked if he’s heard if farms are rehiring workers, he replied, “Yes, you need workers to take care of the crop and so, that is definitely happening. We’re putting people back to work.”

Manatee and the rest of the state also seems to have escaped serious damage to its citrus trees, said a spokesman for Florida Citrus Mutual.

“Farmers did lose fruit. It was a challenging period for growers, but overall, we came through in decent shape,” said Andrew Meadows, spokesman for the Lakeland-based trade organization representing nearly 8,000 members.

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