I would like to start by introducing myself. My name is Kyle Straughn, and I am a fifth-generation Florida farmer. My partners and I have close to 750 acres of blueberries planted in Alachua County. We also have partners farming approximately 250 acres in southern Georgia. Our four largest farms are fully vertically integrated, from propagating our own bare-root plants to picking and packing out of centrally located packing houses on each farm. I say all this to explain we are heavily invested and therefore dedicated to the success of the Florida blueberry industry. I would like to personally invite anyone to come visit our farms to look at research plots and varieties, and I hope to get the opportunity to visit yours as well.
Although it wasn’t my initial goal to become the president of the Florida Blueberry Growers Association, I am honored to have been selected to serve in this way. Domestic food production and Florida’s natural resources are near and dear to my heart. Bringing production together with science has been a major point of interest throughout my career in agriculture, and I understand that to be the main intent of our FBGA organization. Our hope is to expand our current impact and help safeguard the survival of the blueberry industry through improved genetics, science, politics, and production field trials on the farm level.
Much has happened in the past several months, from hurricanes and (equally damaging) tropical storms to a new administration with a clear focus on immigration and even threats of import tariffs. Wages and adverse effect wage rate (AEWR) continue to increase. In fact, the AEWR is set to increase to $16.23 in 2025, a 10% increase from 2024. The effects of recent storms are widespread, and it is difficult to determine how and when this will affect our crops over the next several years. For many in Florida, damage occurred in the form of trauma to younger plantings that will likely cause long-term issues for those blueberry bushes. Alternately, many parts of Georgia are seeing what is expected to be an immediate effect in the 2024-25 season.
On another note, U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council is pushing for a large increase in “assessment fees” and has predicted up to twice the amount of fruit to be in our global market in as little as five years. Although most of this is not in our market window and won’t be coming to the U.S., based on what I experienced during my visit to Peru, it is coming. They have the capability to produce big, firm, and high-quality berries year-round. Luckily, our market window is the least favorable time for them to do so based on their growing season. One thing seems very clear: quality standards are rising quicker than I’ve ever seen, and it is apparent this trend will continue.
As we have changes in our membership, I would like to thank all new and old members for being part of this association. Some are stepping down after years of service and many new faces are stepping up with fresh ideas and strategies for the future. We also have recently recognized many industry leaders in our second Florida Blueberry Hall of Fame, and I would like to thank everyone who worked to make this happen.
As I write this, we are making decisions on our most important spray of the year, Dormex. Many of you know that this spray can “make or break you,” and in this area, there aren’t many commercially viable variety options without it. The early December chill we’re receiving is just on time. It appears we’ll be poised to start freeze-protection in early January if weather predictions stay true. Mild winters like we experienced last year are a good reminder of how much is lost on those cold nights, how hard it is on the structure of the bush, and how future berry production may be affected because of that damage.
I was recently in the field talking with an industry leader about types of investments that would ensure future success, and his response was replanting with higher quality varieties that can be picked with a machine once the market has dropped. As expensive and difficult as this may seem, I could not agree more. Thinking about this season and the future of the blueberry industry, I am cautiously optimistic about this year and our grower’s ability to pivot and maintain a viable industry for future generations.
