Miami-Dade Property Appraiser Pedro Garcia meets with County's agricultural producers May 11

Commercial growers and other agricultural producers in Miami-Dade County are being asked to attend the 2011 Agricultural Classified Values Workshop being held next Wednesday, May 11th at the Miami-Dade Cooperative Extension Service in Homestead.

Property Appraiser Pedro J. Garcia is asking that commercial growers and other agricultural producers bring to this meeting, lease information (whether they are lessees or lessors) including market and financial data. He says the Property Appraiser's Office needs this information to formulate classified use rates for land used for agricultural purposes in 2011.

The Agricultural Classified Values Workshop was initiated by a 2005 county commission resolution, before Miami-Dade had an elected Property Appraiser, and the office was still a county department under the control of the mayor.

Since being elected Property Appraiser in 2009 Mr. Garcia has chosen to continue the annual meeting, noting that the workshop is consistent with his election pledges 'to set the right values" for properties in Miami-Dade and accelerate outreach to property owners.

He said his office welcomed the opportunity the meeting gives him to discuss issues of concern to the agricultural producers and to hear their suggestions as to how his office can better serve the agricultural community.

Mr. Garcia noted that despite major challenges, the agricultural sector continued to be a major contributor to the Miami-Dade economy. "The continued success of our agricultural businesses is in the best interest of all residents in our county," he said.