Primary among the updates being contemplated in the 601 revisions will be the redistricting of the Florida Citrus Commission to ensure that all growing areas of the state are fairly represented. To that end, it is anticipated that the current three citrus districts will be expanded to six, and the commission will be expanded from the current nine seats to 11, comprised of a grower from each of the six districts, three processor representatives, a packer representative from the Indian River production area, and one large grower representative. Additionally, in an effort to ensure maximum transparency on the expenditure of funds for HLB research, 601 will be amended to require periodic reports be made to the Florida Citrus Commission on the projects being funded from the state treasury on citrus production research. These reports will include information on the projects funded as well as their status and findings. Language will also be included in the 601 revisions to ensure Florida growers have first right of refusal on any new citrus variety developed as a result of research funded with state dollars and maintain exclusive rights to these varieties for a period certain. During Florida Citrus Mutual’s November meeting, our board of directors was presented with the proposed changes to 601 and voted unanimously to support the proposed legislation. They understand that the revisions to 601, as well as our research and marketing funding requests, will be integral to continuing to position the Florida citrus industry to stay in the game in both the near term and for generations to come.
How Florida Citrus Mutual Is Laying the Groundwork for Future Growth
Legendary basketball coach Phil Jackson could not have been more on point when he said, “The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” In the team that is the Florida citrus industry, we all have our positions to fill and roles to play. The growers continue to adapt and adopt new practices and strategies to continue providing top quality, healthy, and delicious Florida citrus to consumers. Researchers remain committed to the search for a cure as well as new, tolerant rootstocks and scions that will allow growers to stay in the game, even in the presence of citrus greening. For Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM), our primary role and strength continues to be building relationships and working on behalf of the Florida citrus grower in Washington, D. C., and Tallahassee. As the state legislature prepares for the 2022 session, Florida Citrus Mutual has been busy engaging members and staff in Tallahassee to educate them on the important issues facing growers and advocating for the legislative priorities being advanced by the industry this session. As in past years, much of our focus will be on funding programs critical to solving HLB (Citrus Research and Development Foundation, Citrus Research and Field Trial Foundation, and New Varieties Development & Management Corporation) and the marketing efforts to continue movement of 100% premium Florida orange juice. In addition to our appropriations requests, Florida Citrus Mutual will be working with the legislature to update Florida Statutes Chapter 601, the Florida Citrus Code. With a stated purpose to “protect health and welfare and to stabilize and protect the citrus industry of the state,” 601 touches almost every facet of the Florida citrus industry. For this reason, it is critical that it be relevant and applicable to the ever-evolving state of our industry. Primary among the updates being contemplated in the 601 revisions will be the redistricting of the Florida Citrus Commission to ensure that all growing areas of the state are fairly represented. To that end, it is anticipated that the current three citrus districts will be expanded to six, and the commission will be expanded from the current nine seats to 11, comprised of a grower from each of the six districts, three processor representatives, a packer representative from the Indian River production area, and one large grower representative. Additionally, in an effort to ensure maximum transparency on the expenditure of funds for HLB research, 601 will be amended to require periodic reports be made to the Florida Citrus Commission on the projects being funded from the state treasury on citrus production research. These reports will include information on the projects funded as well as their status and findings. Language will also be included in the 601 revisions to ensure Florida growers have first right of refusal on any new citrus variety developed as a result of research funded with state dollars and maintain exclusive rights to these varieties for a period certain. During Florida Citrus Mutual’s November meeting, our board of directors was presented with the proposed changes to 601 and voted unanimously to support the proposed legislation. They understand that the revisions to 601, as well as our research and marketing funding requests, will be integral to continuing to position the Florida citrus industry to stay in the game in both the near term and for generations to come.
Primary among the updates being contemplated in the 601 revisions will be the redistricting of the Florida Citrus Commission to ensure that all growing areas of the state are fairly represented. To that end, it is anticipated that the current three citrus districts will be expanded to six, and the commission will be expanded from the current nine seats to 11, comprised of a grower from each of the six districts, three processor representatives, a packer representative from the Indian River production area, and one large grower representative. Additionally, in an effort to ensure maximum transparency on the expenditure of funds for HLB research, 601 will be amended to require periodic reports be made to the Florida Citrus Commission on the projects being funded from the state treasury on citrus production research. These reports will include information on the projects funded as well as their status and findings. Language will also be included in the 601 revisions to ensure Florida growers have first right of refusal on any new citrus variety developed as a result of research funded with state dollars and maintain exclusive rights to these varieties for a period certain. During Florida Citrus Mutual’s November meeting, our board of directors was presented with the proposed changes to 601 and voted unanimously to support the proposed legislation. They understand that the revisions to 601, as well as our research and marketing funding requests, will be integral to continuing to position the Florida citrus industry to stay in the game in both the near term and for generations to come.