September 9, 2004

Puerto Rico Farmers Association Defends Milk Price Increase
 

As a result of higher production costs, the president of the Puerto Rico's Farmers Association, Ramon Gonzalez, had asked the Milk Industry Regulation Office to approve an increase in the price of milk.

Gonzalez refused to specify the amount that ranchers want to raise on the price of the product.

"We support the increase in the price of milk, the ranchers are members of the Farmers Association. We have heard their studies and have no doubts that the increase in justified," he said.

Gonzalez said the cost of concentrated foods used by the cattle had been raised by 30 percent in recent years. He also stressed that the milk producers has reported an increase in the cost of electricity.

The leader of the Farmers Association said that if the price increase is not approved, it will cause serious damage in the dairy industry.