Farmworkers Self-Help, Inc.

The following letter from nine organizations serving migrant and seasonal farm workers was delivered to the Governor’s office today:

January 27, 2010

The Honorable Charlie Crist
Governor
State of Florida
The Capitol, Plaza Level 05
Tallahassee, Florida 32399

Dear Governor Crist:

As you know, the freeze from January 2, 2010 to January 14, 2010 has had a devastating impact on Florida agriculture. As noted in the letter of January 14 from Commissioner Bronson, no sector of Florida agriculture has been spared. Citrus, sugarcane, nursery crops, tropical fish, sweet corn, tomatoes, snap beans, strawberries, blueberries, peppers, and tropical fruit all sustained heavy damage.

With the loss of a major portion of our agricultural crop, thousands of farm workers and their families in the impacted counties have been displaced due to job loss and the accompanying loss of income. Unemployment is expected to continue to rise in the coming months as emergency harvesting and salvage operations cease. Many displaced farm workers are already seeking assistance for food, clothing, housing and other unmet needs because of lost income.

Given that some of the counties most severely affected by the freeze are also among the most economically disadvantaged in the state, increased unemployment is significantly straining the resources of local social service agencies. Food banks in affected areas are experiencing a significant increase in the number of people seeking food assistance which has rapidly depleted their supplies.

While data is still being collected, we believe that the freeze will cost farm workers over $50 million in lost wages over the next few months. Almost all of this money would have gone to pay for the rent, utilities and food. For farm workers who can barely make ends meet in the best of times, the freeze is a catastrophe. The need for assistance is urgent and undeniable.

We are aware that you already have requested a primary county disaster declaration from USDA for all Florida counties. Such a declaration provides some needed relief for agricultural producers but does not trigger assistance under the Stafford Act. It takes a presidential disaster declaration in order to make emergency food stamps, disaster unemployment benefits, and food commodities available to affected workers. There is recent precedent for such a declaration; Governor Schwarzenegger requested similar federal assistance following a 2007 freeze which wiped out the California citrus crop.

For these reasons, we urgently ask that you request the President to declare a major disaster declaration for the entire state, as described under the provisions of Section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. §§5121-5206 (Stafford Act) and as implemented by 44 CFR §206.36.

Thank you in advance for your support of Florida’s farm workers. Should you need additional information regarding this request, please do not hesitate to contact Robert Williams at 850- 385-7900.

Sincerely,

Centro Campesino Farmworker Center, Inc.
P.O. Box 343449
Florida City, Florida 33034
Contact: Diane Cantor (305) 245-7738

Coalition of Florida Farmworker Organizations, Inc.
778 West Palm Drive
Florida City, Florida 33034
Contact: Arturo Lopez (305) 246-0357

Farmworker Association of Florida
1264 Apopka Blvd.
Apopka, Florida 32703
Contact: Tirso Moreno (407) 810-3330

Farmworker Coordinating Council of Palm Beach, Inc.
1313 Central Terrace
Lake Worth, Florida 33460
Contact: Manuel Allende (561) 533-7227

Farmworkers Self-Help, Inc.
37240 Calle de Milagros
Dade City, FL 33523
Contact: Margarita Romo (352) 567-1432

Migrant Farmworker Justice Project
Florida Legal Services, Inc.
2425 Torreya Drive
Tallahassee, Florida 32303
Contact: Rob Williams (850) 385-7900

Redlands Christian Migrant Association
402 West Main Street
Immokalee, Florida 34142
Contact: Barbara Mainster (239) 658-3560

Rural Neighborhoods, Inc.
P.O. Box 343529
Homestead, Florida 33034
Contact: Steve Kirk (350) 242-2142

Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 219
Fort Meyers, Florida 33902
Contact: Amanda Caldwell (239) 334-4554