Copyright 2002 The Tribune Co. Publishes The Tampa Tribune  
Tampa Tribune (Florida)
March 14, 2002, Thursday, FINAL EDITION
SECTION: MONEYSENSE, Pg. 10

LENGTH: 359 words

HEADLINE: Growers Intensify Label Lobbying

BYLINE: ANDREW MEADOWS , ameadows@tampatrib.com

BODY:
FLORIDA GROUP SEEKS ORIGIN STICKERS

TAMPA - After months of lobbying Congress to require country-of-origin labeling on produce, Florida's growers aren't about to give up as the debate nears its end.

With a House-Senate committee putting the finishing touches on the 2002 Farm Bill, Florida's $1 billion produce industry is implementing a full-court press.

A coalition of farming groups, including the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, the Florida Tomato Exchange and the Florida Farm Bureau, is taking out a full-page ad in The Washington Post today urging the committee to support country-of-origin labeling.

The measure would require produce in all 50 states to carry stickers proclaiming "melons from Guatemala" or "tomatoes from Mexico."

Florida is one of a handful of states to require country-of-origin labels on produce. Florida's law passed in 1979.

Nationwide labeling faces stiff opposition from food retailers. They say the requirement will cost consumers and taxpayers $1.3 billion in administrative, organizational and enforcement costs.

Last week, the Food Industry Trade Coalition, a group of retailers led by the Food Marketing Institute, a grocery trade association, wrote a letter to the conference committee members asking them to strike labeling from the 2002 Farm Bill.

"Retailers would face a nearly impossible task to put the right label or sign in the right place at the right time," the letter states. "Additional costs would be incurred in added labor, signage and display space. Inevitably, these costs would be reflected in consumer prices."

Ray Gilmer, a spokesman for the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, said consumers should know where their fruit and vegetables are produced. He said the Food Marketing Institute's numbers are inflated.

Besides produce, the proposed labeling requirement includes meat, fish, pork and peanuts. Gilmer said peanuts were included to pick up votes from Georgia.

Florida is the nation's largest producer of winter vegetables. The state often goes head-to-head with Mexico and other South American countries for grocery retailers' business.

GRAPHIC: PHOTO (C)
(C) Labeling produce isn't free, foes say, and "Inevitably, these costs would be reflected in consumer prices."

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