Growers Get Behind Effort To Fund Citrus Research

Posted by A. J. Bussan|July 12, 2010

The leadership of Florida Citrus Mutual endorsed federal legislation intended to help the Florida citrus industry battle invasive pests and diseases. The bill would divert a portion (up to $30 million a year ) of the federal tariff on imported citrus products, including frozen concentrate orange juice, to finance the Citrus Disease Research and Development Trust Fund. The money would be distributed by a nine-member board comprised of representatives from citrus producing states – Florida, California, Arizona, and Texas.

The measure, sponsored by Florida Sen. Bill Nelson, has broad support from the domestic citrus industry.“We are in the fight of our lives,” said Michael W. Sparks, executive VP/CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual. “This will certainly give us a leg up in protecting an essential U.S. industry.”

Over the past four years, Florida growers have committed more than $39 million to research HLB and its vector – the Asian citrus psyllid – in the laboratory. The effort has resulted in more than 100 ongoing research projects. “Over the next few months, the domestic citrus industry will be aggressively communicating the importance of this bill to members of Congress,” Sparks said.

Source: Florida Citrus Mutual news release