Increased Global Trade Opportunity Equals New Threats For Crops [Opinion]
January 26, 2015 
Adam Putnam
Our economy is more global than ever. Boundaries, currencies, and cultures are no longer impediments to the exchange of goods, services, and ideas. New technologies and innovations in transportation have helped us break down these barriers to trade, and the expansion of the Panama Canal, which is expected to be completed some time this year, will further expand opportunities for global trade.
Over the years, Florida has earned the reputation as an invasive pest and disease hotbed. Florida’s warm climate, nearly 100 million visitors a year, and growth in international trade all have contributed to the problem. Unwelcome pests like the giant African land snail, or the Asian citrus psyllid, are examples of invasive pests that present serious threats to Florida agriculture.
Productive Partnership
One of the many ways the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is working to protect Florida agriculture from pests and disease, while supporting increased international trade, is through a partnership with the USDA and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Customs and Border Protection. Currently, imports of fresh fruits and vegetables from certain countries are prohibited from entering the U.S. through Florida ports due to significant risk of introducing pests and disease. Through our partnership with USDA and DHS, however, we’ve developed a pilot program that allows specific produce from certain countries to enter Florida ports after receiving cold treatment to prevent the entry of pests and disease.
The cold treatment brings produce down to low temperatures for an extended period of time in order to eliminate any invasive pests that may have accompanied the produce shipments. This pilot program, which began in October 2013, is a great example of how we can work together to protect our domestic food supply from the threat of invasive pests. In December, the program was expanded to allow imports of other commodities from Peru and Argentina, including apples, citrus, and pears.
Seeing Is Believing
I take my responsibility to protect and grow Florida’s agriculture industry very seriously, so I have personally traveled to Panama, and other department leaders have traveled to Peru, to evaluate the progress and effectiveness of the pilot program. After these visits, and more than a year into the pilot program, I am confident we can aggressively protect Florida and the nation’s agriculture industry while capitalizing on opportunities to further expand Florida’s international trade in this increasingly global economy.
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