FCM Mutual Musings: Here We Meet Again

By Mike Sparks|April 20, 2011

Once again, the upcoming Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference (June 15-17) will return to the beautiful Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs. This will be Mutual’s seventh year hosting the conference. In 2010, we had more than 570 attendees for three days of fun, education, business, and camaraderie. This year’s event is sure to be a big hit as well.

The educational session agenda touches on some of the industry’s hot button issues. As part of the event, Syngenta’s Good Science Guy, Dr. Jim Frank, is scheduled to give a entertaining and informative presentation on how to avoid pesticide resistance.
The next part of the session will feature scientists from USDA and UF/IFAS presenting the most promising HLB research. Afterward, Mutual’s D.C. lobbying firm, Akin Gump, will give an update on federal citrus issues and an overview of the current mood in our nation’s capital.
Finally, industry economists will offer up a view of the global citrus market and the role of emerging production areas including Central America, Mexico, and China.

Meet And Greet

As usual, there is a host of industry meetings at the Conference including the Florida Citrus Commission and Florida Citrus Mutual on Wednesday. The Citrus Research and Development Foundation is scheduled to meet on Thursday as are some of the regional associations.
We also will hold a Spouse Event on Thursday entitled “The Juicy Scoop.” The event, which will educate attendees on the latest in health, nutrition, beauty and fashion, is sponsored by the Florida Department of Citrus.

Prepare for a lot of entertainment at this year’s Conference. On Wednesday, courtesy of the International Federation of Fruit Juice Producers, an Elvis impersonator with a full scale backing band of dancers and horns will perform. And on Thursday, after the industry banquet, where this year’s Florida Grower Citrus Achievement Award winner will be announced, we will have a dueling pianos show that is certain the get the house rocking. Friday’s family dinner will have a DJ and dancing.

Family Value

Because we want the conference to be a family affair keep in mind that “Camp Coconut” will be available to your children on Thursday and Friday night. As part of the camp, the kids do a variety of activities, arts and crafts. In the past, they’ve done a sunset boat cruise and a “dive-in movie” where they showed a movie near Coconut Point’s big waterfall pool. Rest assured, the kids will have a blast.
The Conference will again stage several events designed to strengthen the voice of the Florida citrus growers in Tallahassee. The fundraisers include a family fishing trip (in lieu of a tournament), silent auction and a golf tournament at the top rated Raptor Bay Golf Club.
Registration forms have already been mailed. But don’t worry if you haven’t received one: you can register online at www.flcitrusmutual.com. We’re looking forward to a great event and I hope to see you there.

Mike Sparks is the executive vice president/CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual.