What a Year It’s Been for Florida Agriculture
December 27, 2020 In December, I typically take this space to reflect on the year that has gone by. In the past, I have deployed a bit of hyperbole to add a little spice to what was a par-for-the-course, normal year. That won’t be necessary in 2020.
We have lived through one of the most consequential years in modern history. The coronavirus has claimed more than a million lives globally and more than 200,000 in the U.S. The U.S. economy was shut down to allow medical infrastructure to prepare for what was coming. Other economies around the globe did the same. We hope for a V-shaped economic recovery but know it will take years to bounce back to pre-COVID levels. Meanwhile, civil unrest broke out in some cities in America. All this, in the middle of presidential election year.
It has been a rough year, but we’ve learned a lot and accomplished much in 2020. By no means to dismiss the tragedy of those who lost their lives or livelihood, there are positives to reflect upon.
History will account for how we responded to the virus, and no doubt there will be things we could have done better. That often is the case when we go through something never experienced before. But look at all the good we have accomplished. Manufacturers turned their machines from making their widgets to making ventilators to help hospitals respond to the virus. Textile mills spun out masks and other personal protective equipment.
Our government, which is the subject of much complaint, rolled out massive relief programs to help the population. By the end of October, the USDA had delivered more than 100 million food boxes to people in need through its Farmers to Families program. The government’s Paycheck Protection Program helped a multitude of businesses navigate through the economic shutdown. Just about every citizen in the country received a check in the mail with more likely to come.
Private charities stepped up to help their communities. Farmers here in Florida responded in a big way supplying food banks that were strained under the need of so many. That, in a time when many of those growers suffered economic fallout from the pandemic.
The economy itself continues to amaze. Would you have thought in your lifetime you would have seen an unemployment rate of nearly 15% in this country? That, following a historically low rate of less than 4% just before the shutdown occurred. And the economy was ready to charge back, and it has, as we’ve slowly reopened commerce. In fact, the third quarter U.S. gross domestic product grew by an amazing 33%.
All in all, it is a remarkable story. For all the good, the bad, and the ugly, we lived history in 2020. As we head into 2021, let’s appreciate all the good in this country, and realize all the political angst we’ve suffered recently is mostly a creation of a small fraction of society that seeks to divide us. Take a wider perspective, get outside, be active, make friends with your neighbors, and tune out the loud, negative voices. It will make your new year much better.