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Florida farms feed the nation

Miami Herald – April 12, 2011

Re Kirk Fordham’s April 7 Other Views article, Why we need Everglades restoration: In these austere times, policymakers are correct to focus on the economy and the creation of jobs even if it means cuts to popular programs such as Florida Forever. No one wants to cut funding for education, healthcare for the poor or other important social services.

However, Fordham’s article, which wraps Everglades-restoration projects in the clothes of jump-starting the economy, is misleading.

The Everglades Foundation, which he heads, supported ditching a major project — the C-43 reservoir — that would have benefitted the Caloosahatchee in favor of the U.S. Sugar land buy, which benefited U.S. Sugar only, by buying its most unproductive land then leasing it back to the company for 20 years or more, in a location that prevents any flow-way.

So which way do they want it — buy more farmland and put it in public ownership or build meaningful projects to protect our natural resources?

Florida agriculture supports 766,000 jobs, generates $100 billion in annual economic activity and is responsible for $3 billion in tax revenue to local, county and state governments. Florida is the nation’s largest producer of sugarcane, citrus, sweet corn and winter leaf crops. It’s No. 2 in vegetables.

Government spending doesn’t create jobs that generate profits and grow the economy. Only investments by the private sector do. Let’s get to work and produce goods and services for our state and country. That’s what Florida agriculture is all about — feeding America.

Rick Roth, president, Roth Farms, Belle Glade

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