Washington Needs to Protect Florida’s Farmers from Foreign Cheaters

Plant City Observer

Sen. Rick Scott

July 13, 2026

Florida produces some of the best food in the world grown by the best farmers, growers, and ranchers in the world. We have a vibrant agricultural industry that forms the backbone of our state's economy and helps keep food on American tables. It also provides good jobs and a meaningful way of life to so many Floridians.

All that is under attack by foreign cheaters, and we need to dig in and fight back.

Last week I called on the Department of Commerce to beef up its investigations into suspected illegal dumping of Mexican strawberries into U.S. markets during peak winter season. This is a blatant attempt by Mexico to rip off hardworking Florida farmers and cut their profits. Florida produces 15 percent of America's strawberries, and the industry has a $1.1 billion impact on Hillsborough County alone. Crop dumping distorts the market and pushes prices down, and it cheats American farmers and their families out of their livelihood.

Here's what we know: On December 31, 2025, the Strawberry Growers for Fair Trade (SGFT), a coalition of domestic growers, filed a petition with the Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) alleging that fresh winter strawberries from Mexico are being sold in the United States at less than fair value. The investigation covered fresh and chilled strawberries from November 1 and March 31, the same window in which Florida growers harvest and sell their crops. Further demonstrating the obvious attempt by Mexico to undermine Florida farmers and destroy their way of life.

Mexico has used the same playbook against Florida's tomato, blueberry, bell pepper, and many other specialty crop growers for nearly 30 years. The damage this illegal practice causes is immense. I have sat down and met with Florida farmers, many from the Winter Strawberry Capitol of the World in Plant City, and have seen firsthand the damage that this illegal crop dumping brings.

Farmers are the backbone of our state and country and that is why we need to stand up to any and all foreign countries trying to game the system.

Many of the affected Florida farms are multigenerational operations, i.e., parents and grandparents who built their farms from a few acres and hope to pass them on to their children. After fighting through Hurricanes Helene and Milton and this most recent winter freeze, these families now face a flood of dumped Mexican strawberries that threatens to take everything they have rebuilt.

It isn't fair, and it isn't good for Florida. When a family farm in Plant City shuts down, it doesn't come back, and the jobs, the rural communities and the food security that depend on it can disappear with it.

Food security is national security; a nation that cannot feed itself cannot defend itself. We cannot allow our nation's ability to feed itself to depend on the trade practices of a foreign government. It's time to put an end to this despicable practice and allow our Florida farmers to sell their crops at fair prices and continue to produce the best strawberries in the world.

I will never stop fighting for Florida's farmers and will work hard to ensure they get the fair playing field they deserve.