MR. HARLLEE: Good morning. I'm Peter Harllee, Junior. My company, Harllee Packing, is based in Palmetto and grows, packs and ships tomatoes. My family has been growing tomatoes in Manatee County in excess of 100 years and presently we have a fifth generation of the family working on the farm.

I am Chairman of the Florida Tomato Committee, an organization that markets Florida tomatoes under a federal marketing order. I also serve as Chairman of the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, a trade association representing growers of fresh vegetables, citrus, sugarcane and other products. These organizations help Florida producers grow and market crops all over the world.

Because of Florida's unique geographic location, our growers can provide consumers here in the U.S. and in other countries with fresh fruits and vegetables that are sometimes not available from other growing regions. Historically, competition for Florida growers has come from low-cost, often subsidized, production from Mexico and other Latin American nations and Europe.

As we have stated in prior comments to Congress and the Administration, the Uruguay Round Agreement and the North American Free Trade Agreement have led to losses in the market share in the U.S. for Florida growers. At the same time, these trade accords have yielded few offsetting gains in export markets. We fear that the next Round of agricultural talks could lead to more of the same -- more competition for the growers in developing countries who don't face the same high cost of complying with the strict labor, environmental and health regulations that we have in our country and also enjoy lower input costs.

At the outset before the new negotiations begin we ask the Administration to correct the deficiencies of the prior agreements. When new talks begin, Florida growers ask our trade representatives to seek improvement in future forums. First we ask that the future trade agreements include exemptions from trade restrictions -- trade reductions on import-sensitive crops grown in Florida. Additionally, we ask for safeguard provisions that respond quickly to market swings and are triggered by price and not volume.

Further, we urge you to seek a way to counter the disastrous effects of currency devaluation which we have seen in Mexico and can significantly alter the intended effect of trade agreements.

In the past five years since the enactment of NAFTA and the dramatic increase in imports from Latin America, Florida has seen a proportionate increase in the number of infestations from damaging pests and disease. The most notorious of these has been our state's battle with the Mediterranean fruit fly. The medfly threatens dozens of citrus and vegetable products in Florida and cost taxpayers and our industry millions of dollars to eradicate.

Another threat is citrus canker, an infection so serious that Florida agriculture officials are devoting hundreds of field staff and tens of millions of dollars each year in attempts to keep it in check. That battle has just begun.

These pests and disease are introduced into our growing regions by imports and smuggling. A single piece of fruit or even a leaf can lead to disaster. When travelling to visit farms in Australia and New Zealand last year I was impressed by the strict rules officials there enforced to protect their local farms. I was thoroughly searched at every point of entry to the point of having my shoes examined. Penalties for violations were serious.

In contrast, when returning to this country after having spent days walking around foreign farms, I passed through customs easily with no review. I had taken precautions to prevent transporting any host material but I could have been carrying a pest or disease that would have threatened Florida agriculture.

Future trade agreements must work to stop these threats at our border and ports. There is no alternative if we expect to continue growing crops here in Florida.

Today we'll hear from other growers who will share their views about the many issues, some of which I've mentioned here, as well as other concerns. While we may disagree about which issue is important, we do have one common message. We will gladly compete and grow the highest quality fruits and vegetables available anywhere, but we can not survive unless our trade agreements ensure fairness by opening access to new markets and recognizing the important sensitivity nature of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Thank you for your time. I appreciate the opportunity to present this to you. Thank you.

(Applause.)