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Title: LOW PRODUCTION COST ALTERNATIVE SYSTEMS ARE THE AVENUE FOR FUTURE SUSTAINABILITY OF VEGETABLE GROWERS IN THE U.S.

Author
item Abdul Baki, Aref
item BRYAN, H - UNIV FL, TREC
item KLASSEN, WALDEMAR - UNIV FL,TREC
item Carrera, Lidia
item LI, W - UNIV FL, TREC
item WANG, Q - UNIV FL, TREC

Submitted to: Acta Horticulturae
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/12/2002
Publication Date: 6/30/2004
Citation: Abdul Baki, A.A., Bryan, H., Klassen, W., Carrera, L.M., Li, W.C., Wang, Q. 2004. Low production cost alternative systems are the avenue for future sustainability of vegetable growers in the U.S. Acta Horticulturae. 638:419-423.

Interpretive Summary: The manuscript identifies the major policies and management practices that led to the inability of Florida vegetable growers to compete in the global market. The banning of methyl bromide manufacturing and use by growers in 2005 and the delayed banning in developing countries until 2015 created a great advantage to competitors, such as Mexico, who share the same marketing window with the U.S. Likewise, the North American Free Trade Agreement added more advantages to competitors by eliminating tariffs and liberalizing the transportation sector. In addition, some management practices have to be changed to conserve natural resources, protect the fragile ecosystem, and reduce production cost. The authors present an environmentally-friendly, low-cost production system that allows U.S. vegetable growers to compete with growers from developing countries in the global market. The main users of this research are American vegetable and fruit growers, American consumers, extension specialists, and environmental protection agencies and organizations.

Technical Abstract: Future sustainability of the vegetable growers in the U.S. will depend on coping with regulations imposed by the global market, and on adoption of production practices that keep production cost low and competitive, conserve natural resources, and protect the environment. Two major policies - the Montreal Protocol and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) adversely affected teh vegetable growers in the U.S. in general and in Florida in particular. With the banning of methyl bromide (MeBr) and the fragility of the ecosystem, there is a need to develop production practices that maintain, or further increase, high yields at reduced chemical inputs. We describe an environmentally friendly production system that meets this need.