SOUTH FLORIDA — Farmers across Florida are facing devastating losses, with many plowing under entire fields rather than harvesting crops they can’t sell at a profit. A mix of trade-tariff disruptions, skyrocketing costs, and labor shortages has pushed many operations to the brink.
In Homestead, one tomato field was left to rot after the cost of picking and packing exceeded what the produce would sell for. According to a May 2025 WSVN-TV investigation, the Miami-Dade County Farm Bureau president said prices for Florida-grown tomatoes have fallen from $16 per box to just $3 or $4, blaming a flood of imports from Mexico that undercut domestic prices.
Farmers say these cheap imports stem from duty-avoidance tactics tied to U.S. tariff threats, which have distorted market competition. At the same time, tariffs on imported fertilizer, equipment parts, and other essentials have driven production costs even higher, according to a WGCU report.
The result, farmers warn, is a “perfect storm” of low prices, rising expenses, and labor instability. As one grower put it, “It’s more cost-effective to just plow them under.”
The fallout extends beyond the fields. Florida’s position as a top producer of tomatoes, peppers, watermelons, and citrus means that these disruptions affect supply chains, local jobs, and consumer prices.
Many growers say they’re hanging on and hoping for relief as trade and labor conditions stabilize. But if the pressure continues, the future of Florida’s specialty-crop industry could be at serious risk.
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