b'These are jobs that support the livelihoods of our neighbors and the welfare of our communities. Georgias top economic driver is agriculture, and purchasing Georgia products not only supports our farmers but ripples throughout the supply chain.- U.S. REP. BUDDY CARTER tonsa 33 percent jump, according to a Last year, Georgias farmers were getting Seeking Relief report by the University of Florida Institutea fairly good price for squash, at around In Georgia, fruits and vegetables are grownof Food and Agricultural Sciences. $12 to $16 a box, says Hall. This was a on approximately 200,000 acres andreasonable price to make a profit. However, represents more than $1.4 billion farm gateThe UGA report states that under thein the middle of our season, squash from value, while produce growers struggle toUSMCA, increased imports from MexicoMexico came in, and the price drops to $6 control their destiny.will continue to negatively impacta box, then $4 a box.blueberries, bell peppers, cucumbers, According to a report prepared last year byeggplants, squash, and tomato crops. AsBlueberries are forecast to be one of the the University of Georgia (UGA) College ofMexico expands year-round production,states hardest-hit crops under the USMCA. Agricultural and Environmental Sciences,Georgias fruit and vegetable growers willGrown in Georgia on approximately the impact of USMCA on Georgias fruitface more economic difficulties. 30,000 acres, blueberries (highbush and vegetable crops could bring aboutand rabbiteye) represent more than $721 mild to catastrophic damage.With no end in sight, high volumes ofmillion in economic impact and create unfairly priced Mexican produce continueabout 4,000 jobs. Projecting annual economic losses of moreto over-saturate the U.S. market and drive than $1 billion for Georgias blueberryprices below the point that it may remainA vital commodity within Georgias and vegetable farmers over the next fiveeconomically unfeasible for produceagricultural industry, Goodman is to ten years, the report also estimatesfarmers to continue production.concerned that the state is in jeopardy of the elimination of more than 8,000losing its blueberry market to Mexico.agricultural-related jobs. According to Jeffrey H. Dorfman, co-author of the USMCA report and UGA While Georgias robust $73.3 billionprofessor of agricultural and applied agricultural industry is expected toeconomics, Mexico has gained a foothold weather the storm generated fromin the U.S. market by extending its growing increased imports from Mexico, fruit andseason through the use of government-vegetable growers in South Georgia will besubsidized protective greenhouses and significantly impacted. high tunnels and lower labor costs. In heavy agricultural-based Clinch andThe Mexican government provides Echols counties, the effects of the USMCAsubsidies to their farmer to install are estimated to bring upwards of 40greenhouses and high tunnels, says percent loss in revenue. Dorfman. This allows them to lengthen their season and overlap with Georgias Not just a Georgia issue, fruit andfruit and vegetable season. vegetable growers, primarily in Southeast states, are being squeezed out of businessSince 2009, Mexicos acreage ofBenefiting Fruit & Vegetable Growers: due to increased imports. Betweenblueberries and vegetables grownCharles Hall, executive director of the 2010 and 2018, imports of tomatoes,in greenhouse and high tunnels hasGeorgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Associationstrawberries, blueberries, and bell peppersexpanded from 25,000 acres to more than have risen from 1.75 to 2.32 million metric100,000 acres. BUSINESS + CULTURE 31'