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Commissioner Nikki Fried Comments on New Coronavirus Stimulus Package

Web AdminCoronavirus, Florida, Top Posts

Tallahassee, Fla. – Late last night, Congressional leaders agreed upon a $900 billion coronavirus relief bill. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues setting new case records, the bill will provide some direct assistance to families and additional funding for food production and distribution, among other priorities. On the bill, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried offered the following statement: “For more than …

Commissioner Nikki Fried on U.S. House Passage of MORE Act

Web AdminCannabis, Florida, Industry News Release, Legislative

(FDACS) — The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R.3884, the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, by a vote of 228-164. This comprehensive, bipartisan cannabis reform package would decriminalize marijuana and take much-needed steps to address the racial injustices of prohibition. As of November 2020, a record-high 68 percent of Americans support marijuana legalization. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, a noted cannabis advocate, offered the …

Nikki Fried: Consumer Conscience Awakening Result of COVID-19

Web AdminCoronavirus, Florida, Top Posts

By Clint Thompson A biproduct of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic was the positive response consumers had to supporting American farmers. Nikki Fried, Florida Ag Commissioner, calls it a “consumer conscience awakening.” “When people go to the food stores, they were seeing on one point, you’ve got Mexican strawberries inside of our food stores and then you’re seeing all of the …

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Nikki Fried: Our Growers Cannot Compete

Web AdminExports/Imports, Florida, Fruit, Produce, Top Posts, Vegetables

Florida Ag Commissioner Makes Comments on USMCA By Clint Thompson Not every leader in the agricultural community believes the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) was the right move for American farmers. Even after the USMCA entered into force on Wednesday, Nikki Fried, Florida Ag Commissioner, remained vocal to her opposition to the agreement, mainly due to its impact on specialty crop …

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Statement by Commissioner Nikki Fried on USDA’s Country of Origin Labeling Enforcement

Web AdminFlorida, Fruit, Top Posts, Vegetables

Tallahassee, Fla. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) recently announced it would temporarily suspend enforcement of Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) for fresh fruit and vegetables in response to COVID-19, allowing products sold to foodservice businesses to be redistributed to grocery stores, markets, and other retail businesses. COOL food package labeling clearly identifies in what country …

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Commissioner Nikki Fried Highlights $522 Million in COVID-19 Crop Losses and Importance of Agriculture Aid

Web AdminFlorida, Fruit, Top Posts, Vegetables

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Agriculture Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) released the Florida Seasonal Crop COVID-19 Impact Assessment, a new report providing data on crop losses facing Florida farmers. Based on figures reported by growers, total crop losses across the state through mid-April 2020 may exceed $522.5 million. Florida is the nation’s second-largest producer of seasonal specialty …

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Commissioner Nikki Fried Comments on House Passage of USMCA

Web AdminFlorida, Industry News Release, Trade

(FDACS) — The U.S. House passed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA). In response, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried offered the following statement: “It is deeply disappointing that seasonal protections were not included in this USMCA implementing legislation. For nearly a year, I have called repeatedly for effective, timely relief from unfair trade practices for America’s seasonal produce growers in the USMCA. …

Commissioner Nikki Fried on Florida-Georgia Water Ruling

Web AdminFlorida, Georgia, Industry News Release, Water

(FDACS) — Following the ruling by a federal judge on Georgia’s consumption of water shared with Florida, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried offered the following statement: “This ruling is a major disappointment for fair, responsible water usage on which both states depend. Georgia’s unchecked disruption of our shared waters in the Apalachicola River has devastated Florida’s oyster industry. I’m encouraging our …

Commissioner Nikki Fried Unveils Major Energy & Climate Legislative Package

Web AdminEnvironment, Florida, Industry News Release, Water

Tampa, FL (FDACS-Oct. 3, 2019) — Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried unveiled an ambitious legislative package of bills to address energy efficiency, climate change, resiliency, and clean energy research. Speaking at a press conference in Tampa alongside U.S. Representative Kathy Castor, U.S. Representative Charlie Crist, and State Representative Margaret Good, Fried highlighted the urgency with which Florida and the nation must address energy and climate issues. The …

Nikki Fried Announces Members of New Hemp Advisory Committee

Web AdminFlorida, Hemp, Industry News Release

Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried announced the members of her new Hemp Advisory Committee, which will help guide the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ hemp rulemaking process and the state’s emerging hemp industry development. Commissioner Fried is committed to Florida becoming a national leader on industrial hemp production. The appointment of committee members comes after the department held three workshops …