The USDA is amending the Florida Citrus Marketing Order to reduce membership of the Florida Citrus Administrative Committee and to update quorum requirements.
According to a news release, other amendments to the marketing order include:
- Revisions to the nomination and selection processes for members.
- Removal of the requirement to allocate membership based on volume from each district.
- Addition of a new section authorizing the use of domestically sourced voluntary contributions and grant funds for promotion and research projects.
The committee recommended these changes to help fulfill membership and quorum requirements and ensure a more efficient and orderly flow of business, according to the release. The authority to accept voluntary contributions will allow more collaboration with other organizations for research and promotional activities, USDA said.
The committee unanimously recommended the amendments, and 98% of citrus producers voted in support the amendments during a referendum conducted April 1 through May 1, 2023, according to the release.
The final rule for this action was published in the Federal Register on Dec. 27, 2023. The rule will be effective on Jan. 26, 2024.
More information about the marketing order is available on the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service’s 905 Florida Citrus webpage.
