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Protesting farmers tractor to Capitol photo by Andrew Mariman Dennis Hofer Growers hurt by produce imports, consolidation of distributors By SHARI DOWNHILL Oregon farmers are taking their tractors to the state Capitol today to protest cheap imported agricultural products and the concentration of distributors. The Tractor Coalition and the Fruit Growers League of Southern Oregon are participating in the grass-roots event organized by farmers across the state. Similar demonstrations were held in Hood River and Wenatchee, Wash., last month. "Our main goal is to make representatives aware that there is an advantage in helping to protect agriculture from some of the foreign competition and from the difficulties created by hardly having any distributors to work with," said Dennis Hofer, executive director of the Fruit Growers League in Medford. "One of the greatest challenges we face is the consolidation of distributors combined with a greater amount of imported fruit flowing into the U.S.," Hofer said. What in the past had been a diverse distribution system of outlets for growers has shrunk. There once were 34 distributors � now the number is down to four or five major buyers because of mergers. "That�s disastrous for the farmer because now there�s little competition," he said. "This double �whammy� gives the farmer a limited market regarding price, size and quality set by the few distributors left and competition with unrestricted fruit imported into the same market." Competing for the same consumer dollar as international farmers, Hofer said Oregon farmers are at an economic disadvantage. International producers have few or no restrictions on wage, safety or environmental issues. "This means a smaller market with competition from foreign fruit that is sold at prices lower than our cost of production," he said. Farmers and ranchers across the state are planning to meet in Salem and herald their case, with tractors rolling through downtown Salem and past the Capitol steps beginning at 11 a.m. The farmers� message to consumers: "It�s simple, buy American," Hofer said. Today�s demonstration is also a plea for consumer education. "What we�d like to do, and what the governor was attempting to do before the budget shortfall, is to establish a �Brand Oregon� so that when you�re dealing with products you can see they�re from Oregon," he said. That�s important, Hofer maintains, to avoid foreign fruit grown with pesticides long ago banned in the United States, in unsanitary conditions, by an underpaid work force. "When you go to Mexico and see strawberries grown with human excrement floating by, it makes it clear why it�s important to know where products come from," Hofer said. Hofer said pear growers in South America and Chile are creating stiff competition for Southern Oregon�s pear farmers. Hofer cites the previous demise of the state�s strawberry farmers at the hands of cheap imports from Mexico. Though farmers are facing financial difficulties, Hofer quickly adds Oregon�s agricultural industry is not asking for a handout to keep afloat. "We�d like to see a demarcation for Oregon fruit, or even U.S. fruit, so that the consumer knows they�re buying American fruit and not something shipped in from overseas," he said. "Look around the valley. If you want a life that includes agriculture, agriculture needs some help." Reach reporter Shari Downhill at 776-4463, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.