A recent purchase of more than 1,250 acres of land in eastern Alachua County is expected to contribute to the improvement of water quality in Hatchet Creek and downstream into Newnans Lake, a murky body of water plagued by nutrient pollution problems.
Alachua County recently finalized its purchase of the land, known as Parcel E from the Weyerhaeuser Company. It’s on the north side of State Road , about one mile west of Orange Heights.
The county bought it for about $3.37 million using Wild Spaces, Public Places funding. Under the 2016 referendum, a half-cent sales tax will be collected through 2024 to continue funding land purchases through the Alachua County Forever program and improvements in county parks.
Brad Haire
In December, U.S. blueberry growers launched the American Blueberry Growers Alliance to rally political support and awareness against rising imports. Southeast fruit and vegetable producers face a continued marketing crisis from imports.
Like other U.S. fruit and vegetable growers in recent years, U.S. blueberry producers face a continued marketing crisis from imports and are organizing to address the problem.
Last September in response to industry efforts, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer asked the International Trade Commission, or ITC, to start a Section 201 global safeguard investigation into increased blueberry imports and if they caused injury or threat to U.S. blueberry growers.