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Serving Alabama's Fruit, Nut & Vegetable Producers
Brian Hardin
(800) 392-5705, ext. 4217
The Horticulture Division is composed of growers who produce fruit, nut and vegetable crops. A wide range of horticultural crops is produced in Alabama. We seek to address and meet the unique needs of farmers who produce Alabama's edible horticultural products, including pecans, peaches, strawberries, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, squash, tomatoes, watermelons, blueberries and sweet corn among many others. Fruit, pecan, and vegetable production amounts to around $57 million annually in cash receipts. Production by county and more horticultural crop statistics can be found through the Alabama Agricultural Statistics Service.
The Alabama Farmers Federation has partnered with the Alabama Farmers Market Authority to promote the Buy Fresh, Buy Local campaign. Reminiscent of an antique seed packet, the "Buy Fresh, Buy Local" logo guarantees Alabama consumers are getting the freshest fruits and vegetables possible, and nothing tastes better than fresh.
Goals and Issues
Goals of the division are long-term and short-term. Issues and challenges facing producers are evaluated each year. Priority is determined by producers at the annual Commodity Organizational Meeting to determine a focus for the division's efforts. A state committee, which is elected by other producers throughout the state, serves to oversee the execution of these goals.
Goals for 2008 include:
- Promotion and marketing of Alabama produce and education of benefits to the public, as well as value-added products
- Development of market for specialty crops and value-added products
- Increased promotion of the "Buy Fresh Buy Local" campaign.
- Increased marketing assistance from the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries.
- Support and expand the Farm To School Program.
- Support and expand the Farmers Market Nutrition Programs.
- Research
- Maintain faculty fruit positions and refill positions as they are vacated.
- Development of sound H-2A and other labor legislation
- Provide better risk management options for producers.
- Monitor the re-registration of crop protection tools by the EPA and support maintaining these needed products.
- Monitor negotiations of the World Trade Organization to ensure that the U.S.'s competitiveness is not decreased because of unfair competition.
- Need for custom harvesting or equipment and processing facilities in the state to provide additional options for producers in addition to the fresh market.
- Promotion of agri-tourism in the state, especially as it relates to fruit, nut and vegetable production.
- Promote the acceptance of crops developed with biotechnology to the public.
Helping farmers address everyday problems is a key part of our mission. New challenges always appear and the Horticulture Division of Alabama Farmers Federation is prepared to address those for the benefit of its members.
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Members of the 2008 Alabama Farmers Federation State Horticulture Committee are, from left, front row: Prather Slay, Chambers; 2nd Vice Chairman Jimmie Fidler, Baldwin; 1st Vice Chairman John Neighbors, Tallapoosa; and Art Sessions, Mobile; back row, from left: Federation Horticulture Division Director Brian Hardin; Jessie Hobbs, Limestone; Jimmy Witt, Blount; Mike Reeves, Morgan; and Joe Adams, Bullock. Not shown are: Chairman Dr. Bill Dozier, Lee; Jimmie Harrison, Chilton; Jackie Lloyd, Jackson; and Joe Smith, Shelby. |
Alabama Farmers Federation at Work for Alabama's Fruit, Nut, & Vegetable Producers
The Horticulture Division supports industry events, such as field days, and hosts a national Horticulture Tour every other year. We have worked to secure several hundred thousand dollars in the federal budget for horticulture research including evaluation of Satsuma Mandarin Oranges, which is an opportunity to revive a once-thriving industry into an alternative crop option for farmers in south Alabama.
Alabama Farmers Federation works with other organizations representing Alabama horticulture including the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries, the State of Alabama Farmers Market Authority and other private and government groups who work to make farming more profitable.
Concerns of farmers are represented at the state and national levels through departments of Governmental Affairs and National Affairs. The Department of Communications provides horticultural news through this website, in addition to its producer member magazine, Neighbors, and biweekly newsletter, Cultivator.
The Local Connection
The strength of the Alabama Farmers Federation lies in the strength of its county Federations. Each county may establish its own Horticulture Committee. There are currently 25 County Horticulture Committees headed by chairmen who are farmers in those respective counties. Needs and requests from producers in the county are the beginning of policy development and the direction of the Division. You may contact the county Horticulture Chairman, or if none currently exists, the Area Organization Director in your region or your county president.
Why Should I be a Member of the Alabama Farmer's Federation?
The Alabama Farmers Federation brings farmers of all commodities together for a common cause. Together, we can accomplish more for everyone's benefit. The more fruit, nut, and vegetable producers are involved in Alabama Farmers Federation, the more effective the organization can be in issues affecting them. The Alabama Farmers Federation maintains a staff working for its members through departments of Commodity Producer Services, Governmental Affairs, National Affairs, Organization, and Communications, among others. With membership in the Alabama Farmers Federation, comes many member benefits. Please visit with us about these privileges.
Alabama Cooperative Extension System & Related Links
Labor
Agencies & Trade Organizations
Related Links
Did You Know?
- Alabama ranks 6th in sweet potato production, 6th in pecan production, 11th in blueberry production, 15th in fresh-market watermelons and 13th in fresh-market tomatoes.
- Chilton County is the number one peach-producing county in Alabama, averaging almost 12 million lbs. per year during a five-year period.
- Baldwin County leads Alabama in potato and sweet potato acreage and is the number one producer of pecans. It is the overall leader of fruit, nut, and vegetable crops in the state.
- Farmers' return for common horticulture crops are 19 cents for every 91-cent pound of apples, 60 cents for every $3.56 (10-pound) bag of potatoes, 10 cents for every 94-cent pound of frozen French fries, 33 cents for every $1.95 bag of potato chips and 4 cents for every 56-cent can of tomatoes.
- The average American eats more than 700 pounds of fruits and vegetables each year, including more than 300 pounds of fresh produce.
For more information, contact Brian Hardin,
Director, Horticulture Division, P.O. Box 11000, Montgomery, AL 36191-0001. Phone:
(800) 392-5705, ext. 4217.
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