Farmers Will Submit Combined Ag Show Exhibit

The Bermuda Farmers Association said that as a “show of good faith” they have decided to submit a combined exhibit at Agricultural Exhibition “showing the very best of what we are capable of producing on island when we all work together.”

The Association previously said they would boycott the Agricultural Exhibition next week to protest Government policies which they said were “trying to kill what little is left of Bermuda’s agricultural business”.

Farmer Tom Wadson, speaking on behalf of the group, said the boycott was due to the amount of red tape they get from Government throughout the year, with the letter from the Department of Customs about intercepting all imported seeds the final straw.

The Dept. of Parks Agricultural Exhibition video promo:

In a statement the Association said, “The farmers strive to do their utmost to produce the best possible local produce and hope that the Department of Environmental Protection, can better assist us with our concerns. We need a Department that understands our industry and is willing to work with the stakeholders for the betterment of the industry and agriculture as a whole on our Island.”

“As a show of good faith we have decided to submit a combined exhibit at Agricultural Exhibition showing the very best of what we are capable of producing on island when we all work together. We appreciate your continued support and welcome your questions – visit us at our farmers’ markets, get to know us and learn where your local food comes from.”

This year’s Agricultural Exhibition will be held on April 18, 19 and 20 at the Botanical Gardens, featuring a line-up of performances, competitions and exhibits with more than 3,000 participants having registered.

The full statement from the Bermuda Farmers Association follows below:

As you may have read in the media, there has been an attempt to implement a new policy with respect to treated seed importation into Bermuda. The said policy was implemented without the approval of the Director of the Department of Environmental Protection, or any consultation with stakeholders, namely vegetable farmers. We hope you can understand why this would cause frustration within the agricultural community.

We would like to thank the Minister of the Environment and Permanent Secretary for their help in addressing this issue.

We know that you likely have many questions and would like to attempt to answer some of these here. The following are some facts regarding treated seed and the reasoning behind our opposition to the seed policy that was implemented. To be clear, treated seed ARE NOT the same thing as GMO seed.

FACT:  There are specific varieties that grow extremely well in our environment and are only available from a particular seed supplier. That supplier determines what seed treatment they will put on the seed. This is a standard practice with US and European seed companies and often we the farmers do not have an option to buy that specific variety in an untreated or raw form. This treatment is applied to the exterior of the seed. As the seed germinates, its root breaks through that seed coat and is protected from fungal and pest threats. At the most, the seedling is protected for three weeks, ensuring the farmers not having to otherwise spray an actual larger amount of insecticide or fungicide. (This reduces costs of production, results in less pesticide application and ultimately allows for higher, cleaner yields). We are not importing genetically modified seed and would welcome a policy on GMO seeds.

FACT: The same seed treatment that may be on our seed is also on the seed grown by our US counterparts. In other words, all the non organic imported produce that arrives on this Island is grown with seed the has been treated the same way.

The farmers strive to do their utmost to produce the best possible local produce and hope that the Department of Environmental Protection, can better assist us with our concerns. We need a Department that understands our industry and is willing to work with the stakeholders for the betterment of the industry and agriculture as a whole on our Island. We look forward to continue working and consulting with the Minister, Director DEP & others to work through our issues which affect our ability to do a job that we take very seriously…..growing healthy food as cleanly and sustainably as possible for our Island.

As a show of good faith we have decided to submit a combined exhibit at Agricultural Exhibition showing the very best of what we are capable of producing on island when we all work together. We appreciate your continued support and welcome your questions – visit us at our farmers’ markets, get to know us and learn where your local food comes from.

#AgriculturalExhibition #AgricultureFarming

Category: All, Environment, News