From foliage to timber and citrus, every sector of Florida agriculture is feeling the impact of Hurricanes Charley and Frances. Early estimates put losses from the two storms in excess of $2 billion – 30 percent of the state’s industry – and these losses will increase depending on where Hurricane Ivan comes ashore.
The nursery industry alone will suffer losses of $530 to $600 million in product and structural damage from Charley and Frances, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture.
“These losses are unprecedented in the state’s history and will be devastating to Florida’s economy, given that agriculture is second only to tourism as a top industry in this state,” says Charles Bronson, Florida agriculture and consumer services commissioner. “We are doing everything possible to respond to emergency needs, but the amount of devastation is such that it will take some time.”
Those in the green industry can make a difference by donating cash, materials or labor to Florida’s growers. The greatest need is for monetary donations, according to Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association.
In response to industry need, Interior Business magazine and sister publications Lawn & Landscape and Golf Course News have kicked off a drive for cash donations to support growers, nurseries and interior and exterior landscape contracting businesses affected by Hurricanes Frances and Charley. You can send your donations to the Hurricane Relief Fund, c/o Interior Business magazine, at 4012 Bridge Ave., Cleveland, Ohio, 44113.
Donations collected from our readers during the next three weeks will be pulled together and submitted to the FNGLA on behalf of the interior and exterior foliage growing and contracting industries. For questions or more information, contact editor Ali Cybulski at 800/456-0707 or acybulski@gie.net.
Those who are interested in donating labor or miscellaneous greenhouse supplies can contact FNGLA at 1533 Park Center Drive, Orlando, Fla., 32835; 800/375-3642; e-mail info@fngla.org; or visit www.fngla.org.
Contractors interested in supporting recovery and rebuilding efforts can contact the Disaster Contractors Network at www.dcnoline.org.
Individuals who want to volunteer can call Florida’s Volunteer Hotline at 800/354-3571 or the Red Cross at 800/435-7669, or www.redcross.org.
Meanwhile, FNGLA is working with Bronson, Gov. Jeb Bush and the state’s congressional delegation to seek federal assistance for the state’s $9.9-billion nursery and landscape industry and the 158,000 Floridians it employs.
“We know that some of these industries will suffer the economic impacts for years to come,” Bronson says. “For example, our nurserymen and women will have to rebuild their greenhouses and structures before they can even begin to resume business.”
Bronson says the department is keeping a close eye on Hurricane Ivan and working with the industries to ensure they have the supplies they need to lessen the potential for additional losses another storm could cause.