Georgia may be known as the Peach State, but blueberries are one of the state’s premier cash crops and a cornerstone of its agriculture industry. Over the past two years though, warm winters followed by flash freezes have severely damaged the crop yield, putting farmers in a bind and spurring action by worried lawmakers.
U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter
U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA-01) was proud to announce this week that as part of the Disaster Supplemental Appropriations Act approved by Congress, funds have been specifically approved for Georgia blueberry farmers who have been impacted by recent natural disasters.
In 2017 a late-season freeze following what had been an unseasonably warm winter devastated the blueberry crop, reducing a projected 90 million pound yield to 30 million. 2018 was similarly bad for farmers, leaving many in difficulty positions following two straight weak seasons.
Late last year Carter voted against the Farm Bill, which eventually passed and was signed into law, because it did not include the adequate crop assistance Georgia’s blueberry farmers needed to recover from the past two years. He explained his rationale following the vote, telling reporters “I certainly wanted to vote in support of the Farm Bill. As Georgia’s top industry, the hard work of our farmers, ranchers and producers contributes to the safest, most abundant and most affordable food supply in the world. Our agricultural community needs and deserves the long-term certainty of a sound Farm Bill. Unfortunately, the Farm Bill brought to the House floor today was not one I could support. It simply does not support Georgia growers.”
Six months later and Carter is pleased to have finally helped secure that much needed disaster relief aid for farmers as part of the $3 billion set aside in the disaster relief bill for emergency assistance for hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, wildfires, and in the case of blueberries – freezes.
“I am thrilled this assistance is finally on the way,” said Carter. “For too long, real Americans, real Georgians have been suffering because Congress failed to deliver this desperately needed relief. Blueberries are a $1 billion industry for Georgia, and the backbone of many of our rural communities. The loss of this crop isn’t only devastating for the growers, but entire local economies. It has taken months of negotiations, but help will be there soon.”
More good news for local farmers, who have fortunately seen a much healthier crop in 2019. Some have said that the yield looks to be as high as it was three or four years ago, a welcome sight after the past two seasons. “It’s one thing to be excited about, because it’s a very high quality Georgia-grown blueberry this year,” said Gary Black, Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture, when asked about the 2019 growing season.
