“Trump is ignoring us” — Florida farmer who backed GOP financially now facing $30K-per-acre losses

[Maze]

“Trump is ignoring us” — Florida farmer who backed GOP financially now facing $30K-per-acre losses

Right now, things are busier than ever on Paul Meador’s farm in Lee County. With strawberry season fast approaching, Meador says he’s already managing the

wtfdetective.blog

Right now, things are busier than ever on Paul Meador’s farm in Lee County. With strawberry season fast approaching, Meador says he’s already managing the tomato, jalapeño, and orange harvests — and every worker makes a difference.


“I employ about a thousand people at this time of year,” he said. But since the federal government shutdown began, Meador says his operation has felt the pressure mounting.

That’s because his workforce depends on the H-2A program — a federal system that allows farms to bring in temporary foreign laborers to help with seasonal crops. For the past 28 days, that program has been frozen.

“We have no plan B,” he said. “Over the last two decades, the domestic workforce has been unavailable to help us. We don’t have anybody else to fall back on to help with the harvest.”

On Tuesday, Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26) sat down with WINK News Anchor Claire Galt and a group of Florida fruit and vegetable growers for an exclusive roundtable discussion.

Farmers at the meeting warned that the longer the H-2A program remains paused, the greater the potential for devastating consequences. “The crops will be lost,” Meador said. “It will be overwhelming.”

According to records, Florida growers recently sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget — part of the Executive Office of the President — pleading for urgent action.

“If the USDOL (Department of Labor) does not quickly resume certifying H-2A applications, 40% of Florida’s annual H-2A workforce may not arrive in time for harvest,” the letter states.


The letter also warned that producers could face “upwards of $30,000 per acre for some commodities” in potential losses. Jamie Fussell, Director of Labor Relations for the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, said the situation has reached a breaking point.

“The Department of Labor is particularly the part right now that is held up,” he said. “If the certifications can’t move, the rest of the process can’t work.” Rep. Díaz-Balart said his top priority is to get key government programs back up and running as quickly as possible.

“In the meantime, I’m going to go to the administration and kind of plead with them to bring some of these folks in Washington back to work to at least process so that farmers and growers can get back to work,” Rep. Díaz-Balart said. “Because right now – they’re facing a major catastrophe.”

Fussell added that if the government doesn’t act soon, the fallout could extend beyond farms and into grocery stores and local economies.


“You know, the biggest concern is that if there’s not product, then competitors may eventually enter the market,” Fussell said. “Also, having competition from US farms helps keep prices low for American consumers and shoppers.”

Meador said he hopes Rep. Díaz-Balart’s outreach to Trump works — because in just a few weeks, the consequences could be devastating. Rep. Díaz-Balart said he remains committed to protecting the industry and the workers who sustain it. “Florida depends very heavily on this,” Rep. Díaz-Balart said.

 

[Phantasmal]

“Trump is ignoring us” — Florida farmer who backed GOP financially now facing $30K-per-acre losses

Right now, things are busier than ever on Paul Meador’s farm in Lee County. With strawberry season fast approaching, Meador says he’s already managing the

wtfdetective.blog

Right now, things are busier than ever on Paul Meador’s farm in Lee County. With strawberry season fast approaching, Meador says he’s already managing the tomato, jalapeño, and orange harvests — and every worker makes a difference.


“I employ about a thousand people at this time of year,” he said. But since the federal government shutdown began, Meador says his operation has felt the pressure mounting.

That’s because his workforce depends on the H-2A program — a federal system that allows farms to bring in temporary foreign laborers to help with seasonal crops. For the past 28 days, that program has been frozen.

“We have no plan B,” he said. “Over the last two decades, the domestic workforce has been unavailable to help us. We don’t have anybody else to fall back on to help with the harvest.”

On Tuesday, Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26) sat down with WINK News Anchor Claire Galt and a group of Florida fruit and vegetable growers for an exclusive roundtable discussion.

Farmers at the meeting warned that the longer the H-2A program remains paused, the greater the potential for devastating consequences. “The crops will be lost,” Meador said. “It will be overwhelming.”

According to records, Florida growers recently sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget — part of the Executive Office of the President — pleading for urgent action.

“If the USDOL (Department of Labor) does not quickly resume certifying H-2A applications, 40% of Florida’s annual H-2A workforce may not arrive in time for harvest,” the letter states.


The letter also warned that producers could face “upwards of $30,000 per acre for some commodities” in potential losses. Jamie Fussell, Director of Labor Relations for the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, said the situation has reached a breaking point.

“The Department of Labor is particularly the part right now that is held up,” he said. “If the certifications can’t move, the rest of the process can’t work.” Rep. Díaz-Balart said his top priority is to get key government programs back up and running as quickly as possible.

“In the meantime, I’m going to go to the administration and kind of plead with them to bring some of these folks in Washington back to work to at least process so that farmers and growers can get back to work,” Rep. Díaz-Balart said. “Because right now – they’re facing a major catastrophe.”

Fussell added that if the government doesn’t act soon, the fallout could extend beyond farms and into grocery stores and local economies.


“You know, the biggest concern is that if there’s not product, then competitors may eventually enter the market,” Fussell said. “Also, having competition from US farms helps keep prices low for American consumers and shoppers.”

Meador said he hopes Rep. Díaz-Balart’s outreach to Trump works — because in just a few weeks, the consequences could be devastating. Rep. Díaz-Balart said he remains committed to protecting the industry and the workers who sustain it. “Florida depends very heavily on this,” Rep. Díaz-Balart said.

DonOld doesn’t care!

 

[LurchAddams]

“Trump is ignoring us” — Florida farmer who backed GOP financially now facing $30K-per-acre losses

Right now, things are busier than ever on Paul Meador’s farm in Lee County. With strawberry season fast approaching, Meador says he’s already managing the

wtfdetective.blog

Right now, things are busier than ever on Paul Meador’s farm in Lee County. With strawberry season fast approaching, Meador says he’s already managing the tomato, jalapeño, and orange harvests — and every worker makes a difference.


“I employ about a thousand people at this time of year,” he said. But since the federal government shutdown began, Meador says his operation has felt the pressure mounting.

That’s because his workforce depends on the H-2A program — a federal system that allows farms to bring in temporary foreign laborers to help with seasonal crops. For the past 28 days, that program has been frozen.

“We have no plan B,” he said. “Over the last two decades, the domestic workforce has been unavailable to help us. We don’t have anybody else to fall back on to help with the harvest.”

On Tuesday, Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26) sat down with WINK News Anchor Claire Galt and a group of Florida fruit and vegetable growers for an exclusive roundtable discussion.

Farmers at the meeting warned that the longer the H-2A program remains paused, the greater the potential for devastating consequences. “The crops will be lost,” Meador said. “It will be overwhelming.”

According to records, Florida growers recently sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget — part of the Executive Office of the President — pleading for urgent action.

“If the USDOL (Department of Labor) does not quickly resume certifying H-2A applications, 40% of Florida’s annual H-2A workforce may not arrive in time for harvest,” the letter states.


The letter also warned that producers could face “upwards of $30,000 per acre for some commodities” in potential losses. Jamie Fussell, Director of Labor Relations for the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, said the situation has reached a breaking point.

“The Department of Labor is particularly the part right now that is held up,” he said. “If the certifications can’t move, the rest of the process can’t work.” Rep. Díaz-Balart said his top priority is to get key government programs back up and running as quickly as possible.

“In the meantime, I’m going to go to the administration and kind of plead with them to bring some of these folks in Washington back to work to at least process so that farmers and growers can get back to work,” Rep. Díaz-Balart said. “Because right now – they’re facing a major catastrophe.”

Fussell added that if the government doesn’t act soon, the fallout could extend beyond farms and into grocery stores and local economies.


“You know, the biggest concern is that if there’s not product, then competitors may eventually enter the market,” Fussell said. “Also, having competition from US farms helps keep prices low for American consumers and shoppers.”

Meador said he hopes Rep. Díaz-Balart’s outreach to Trump works — because in just a few weeks, the consequences could be devastating. Rep. Díaz-Balart said he remains committed to protecting the industry and the workers who sustain it. “Florida depends very heavily on this,” Rep. Díaz-Balart said.

trump realizes this which is why he's going to pay subsidies to farmers to make up for his tariff negligence mess. So, the US taxpayer is going to pay for trump's madness, yet again.

 

[Uncensored2008]

“Trump is ignoring us” — Florida farmer who backed GOP financially now facing $30K-per-acre losses

Right now, things are busier than ever on Paul Meador’s farm in Lee County. With strawberry season fast approaching, Meador says he’s already managing the

wtfdetective.blog

Right now, things are busier than ever on Paul Meador’s farm in Lee County. With strawberry season fast approaching, Meador says he’s already managing the tomato, jalapeño, and orange harvests — and every worker makes a difference.


“I employ about a thousand people at this time of year,” he said. But since the federal government shutdown began, Meador says his operation has felt the pressure mounting.

That’s because his workforce depends on the H-2A program — a federal system that allows farms to bring in temporary foreign laborers to help with seasonal crops. For the past 28 days, that program has been frozen.

“We have no plan B,” he said. “Over the last two decades, the domestic workforce has been unavailable to help us. We don’t have anybody else to fall back on to help with the harvest.”

On Tuesday, Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26) sat down with WINK News Anchor Claire Galt and a group of Florida fruit and vegetable growers for an exclusive roundtable discussion.

Farmers at the meeting warned that the longer the H-2A program remains paused, the greater the potential for devastating consequences. “The crops will be lost,” Meador said. “It will be overwhelming.”

According to records, Florida growers recently sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget — part of the Executive Office of the President — pleading for urgent action.

“If the USDOL (Department of Labor) does not quickly resume certifying H-2A applications, 40% of Florida’s annual H-2A workforce may not arrive in time for harvest,” the letter states.


The letter also warned that producers could face “upwards of $30,000 per acre for some commodities” in potential losses. Jamie Fussell, Director of Labor Relations for the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, said the situation has reached a breaking point.

“The Department of Labor is particularly the part right now that is held up,” he said. “If the certifications can’t move, the rest of the process can’t work.” Rep. Díaz-Balart said his top priority is to get key government programs back up and running as quickly as possible.

“In the meantime, I’m going to go to the administration and kind of plead with them to bring some of these folks in Washington back to work to at least process so that farmers and growers can get back to work,” Rep. Díaz-Balart said. “Because right now – they’re facing a major catastrophe.”

Fussell added that if the government doesn’t act soon, the fallout could extend beyond farms and into grocery stores and local economies.


“You know, the biggest concern is that if there’s not product, then competitors may eventually enter the market,” Fussell said. “Also, having competition from US farms helps keep prices low for American consumers and shoppers.”

Meador said he hopes Rep. Díaz-Balart’s outreach to Trump works — because in just a few weeks, the consequences could be devastating. Rep. Díaz-Balart said he remains committed to protecting the industry and the workers who sustain it. “Florida depends very heavily on this,” Rep. Díaz-Balart said.

What a fucking moron you are, 12B.

"Strawberry season approaching."

It's November, dumbfuck. Strawberry season is long over. Your mindless hate rant from another rando hate site fails...

 

[Jake Starkey]

The farmers who supported Trump are now getting their due reward.

 

[Jake Starkey]

Florida has one main strawberry season each year, running from late November through March, with peak harvest in February. Thanks to its subtropical climate, Florida produces winter strawberries when most other U.S. regions are dormant.

Florida’s Strawberry Season Breakdown​

• Start: Late November to early December Early harvests begin in Central Florida, especially around Plant City.
• Peak: February This is when fields are most productive, roadside stands overflow, and the Florida Strawberry Festival kicks off in Plant City.
• End: Late March to early April Production tapers off as temperatures rise and plants complete their fruiting cycle.

Why Only One Season?​

• Florida’s climate allows for winter cultivation, unlike northern states that harvest in late spring or summer.
• Strawberries are not everbearing in Florida’s commercial fields—they’re planted in the fall and harvested through early spring.
• The state’s growers use varieties like Florida Radiance and Sweet Sensation, bred for cool-season productivity.

​

Uncensored 2008 is an ignoramus.

 

[Diogenes]

Say, isn't the government shut down?