Redland Rambles

As farmers start counting their loses from a historic early freeze, Miami-Dade County officials sought to reassure local growers in the deep southern portion of the county that help is on the way.

Farmworkers, however, may not be so lucky.

County Manager George Burgess and Agriculture Manager Charles LaPradd walked through a field of badly damaged tropical produce and told farmers the U.S. Department of Agriculture is close to issuing a state-wide disaster declaration.

That would make low-interest loans and grants available to growers whose crops suffered in cold temperatures earlier this month.

“It’s very expensive to go through a freeze,” said LaPradd, who serves as a liaison between growers and county officials. “Without the declaration, you don’t get any help.”

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