As Hurricane Ian approaches landfall this week, state agriculture associations and agencies are springing into action to prepare for the storm. Several events schedule for the week have been cancelled or postponed, including Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association’s Labor Relations Forum planned for Sept. 28-30 in Orlando. The association will provide further information on new dates for the event.
Matt Joyner, executive vice president and CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual, sent the following alert to members: Following the most recent updates on now-Hurricane Ian, it is clear that some portion, if not all, of the Florida citrus industry will most likely experience some degree of impact in the coming days. Florida Citrus Mutual is staying in close contact with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) to ensure that we are prepared to assist our grower members moving forward.
Working with Shannon Shepp at the FDOC and Lisa Jensen, Director of FDACS Division of Fruit and Vegetables, protocols have been established for any Florida Citrus Commission emergency rule making that may be deemed necessary and requested by industry. Florida Citrus Mutual stands ready to make any such needed requests.
As we continue to prepare for the arrival of Ian, the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) has provided a Crop Insurance Fact Sheet that provides recommended pre- and post-storm actions for growers. We encourage you to look over this document for any pertinent reminders.
We know that the coming days will see reporters and media outlets reaching out with questions regarding the impact of Hurricane Ian on Florida’s signature industry. As such, the Florida Citrus Mutual communications team is working closely with the FDOC issues management team to address all media requests.
As we continue to monitor Hurricane Ian’s path, we are praying for safety for the citrus industry and all of Florida’s residents.