Page 15 - Strategic Plan

ically, the commercial industry’s diversity contin- ues to increase, with roughly 65% being part-time commercial growers and 70% having a limited horticulture background. During the past 8 to 10 years, the number of Asian-American commercial producers has increased dramatically.
The specific need of each commercial fruit crop grown in south Florida varies. Many commodities would benefit from new cultivars that provide al- ternative harvest seasons, improved fruit quality, or superior root-stocks with tolerance to detri- mental biotic and abiotic conditions. Improved in- formation and technology transfer of sustainable crop production practices and post-harvest han- dling are needed. Food safety practices, and water use, quality, and management issues are of signifi- cant challenges for producers. Interestingly, novice and established entrepreneurs are expanding the diversity of tropical fruit operations in south Flor- ida via new crops, new markets, and e-marketing.
Major Constraints
• Invasive species, including quarantine insects and mites, are a constant threat for the tropical fruit industry.
• Significant increases in land values make the establishment of orchards on leased property less likely in Miami-Dade County.
• Lack of information concerning specific pro- duction practices for some crops (e.g., sustain- able fertilizer and irrigation management, IPM strategies, post-harvest handling and process- ing, and economics/marketing).
• Cultural solutions to periodic wet/flooded con- ditions.
• Limited IPM pesticide control systems in place.
• Increased production costs.
Enabling Conditions
• The only area in the continental United States where a vast array of subtropical and tropical fruit crops can be grown commercially.
• The presence of a research facility that has been recognized nationally and internationally for its excellence and diversity in conducting research on tropical fruits.
• An 8% increase in tropical fruit acreage in Flor- ida.
• Entrepreneurs are establishing new plantings of tropical fruit.
• Small- to mid-sized operations are engaging in
direct marketing and alternative markets (the
industry is organized for generic marketing).
• Sustainednumberofcoredisciplines(research,
extension, and teaching) at UF/IFAS/TREC
South Florida Natural Resources
The effects of climate change and sea level rise on agricultural resources, including water, land, and soil, are major concerns in south Florida. The fre- quency and intensity of extreme events such as heavy storms, flooding, hurricanes, and drought are expected to increase under projected climate change scenarios. Agricultural productivity and natural resources can be degraded by unfavorable sequences from these weather events, leading to substantial losses in crop production, soil, nutri- ents, and fertilizers in agricultural fields; pollutant loading to water bodies; and subsequent water quality issues.
South Florida has unique natural resources that are the object of tremendous restoration and con- servation efforts. The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan is the largest and most costly res- toration project of its kind in the world, with a 30- year time frame and an $8 billion budget to date. The urban and agricultural areas of South Florida occupy environmentally sensitive areas between the Everglades and Biscayne National Parks.
There is increasing demand for more sustainable urban water use and disposal, and economical- ly viable and environmentally sustainable friend- ly agricultural practices to protect natural eco- systems. Water quality and quantity issues are of considerable concern because of the excessively porous, oolitic limestone soils that overlay the Bis- cayne Aquifer, the primary drinking water source for 8 million people in the metro areas. This aquifer, which lays under the Everglades and Miami-Dade County, empties into Biscayne Bay and Florida Bay. These areas and bays represent large natu- ral resources for water, recreation, and habitat for native flora and fauna that need protection from pollution. Elevated concentrations of urban runoff chemicals and agrichemicals in aquatic systems of south Florida indicate a need to find innovative solutions that limit agrichemical leaching.
The Biscayne Aquifer, which underlays the urban and agricultural area, is controlled by rain and is managed using canals and structures that release,
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