AG Commissioner Fried opposes decision to allow Chinese citrus imports

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (CBS12) — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue on Tuesday, strongly opposing the USDA’sdecision to allow the import of fresh citrus from China.

Besides the fact that increasing foreign imports would be harmful to the domestic citrus industry, Fried believes this "misguided policy change" during the COVID-19 pandemic poses a serious risk to the state's citrus industry, as well as many other crops, according to a news release. This is because of the potential introduction of "devastating invasive pests and diseases" found in China.

Fried's letter reads in part:

“After all that Florida’s industry has overcome and the current challenges facing our farmers, to put our agriculture industry at risk by allowing both the introduction of additional invasive species as well as increased foreign competition is beyond misguided. To kick our agriculture community while they are down, and when our domestic food supply depends on them more than ever, is just plain wrong. I strongly urge the USDA to put the wellbeing of Florida’s and America’s farmers first and rescind this misguided proposal.”

Fried also noted that the timing of the USDA's decision during this pandemic could exacerbate issues that Florida’s agriculture community is already facing.

“The dire situation on the ground due to COVID-19 market disruptions is exacerbating the decades-long impact that illegal dumping of Mexican produce has had on domestic producers of seasonal produce.”

Other Florida agriculture industry leaders say they agree with Fried.

“The Florida citrus industry is already facing a devastating non-native disease called HLB that originated in China and has ravaged our groves over the past decade. So the threat is real. We need to take another look at this decision. Add to the fact it will hurt growers by flooding domestic markets with Chinese citrus and it really is a double whammy,” said Florida Citrus Mutual Executive VP and CEO Mike Sparks.

“Florida Farm Bureau appreciates USDA’s work to keep domestic producers in business during the current COVID-19 crisis, but the importation of Chinese citrus will only compound the mounting challenges faced by our growers. Our citrus industry cannot afford this setback,” Florida Farm Bureau Federation President John L. Hoblick said.

In 2019, a total of 22 pests and diseases of quarantine significance were noted from China that could follow the pathway of introduction into the continental U.S., according to the news release. These included three different mites, a leaf miner, eight different Bactrocera fruit flies, Asian corn borer, Asian citrus psyllid, a bacterial pathogen causing citrus greening, a bacterial pathogen causing yellowing, a complex of bacteria causing citrus canker, three different fungi (one causing citrus black spot), Citrus bent leaf viroid and Satsuma dwarf virus.

Read the full letter below: