Florida growers have said yes to more producer-funded citrus research.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services reported Florida’s citrus growers have reauthorized the Florida citrus research order in a statutorily required referendum conducted by the department, according to a news release.
The results of the ballots returned yielded 76% “yes” votes representing 69% of total acres, the release said.
The Citrus Research and Development Foundation serves as the advisory council of record for the research order and was created to conduct disease and production research to ensure the survival and competitiveness of Florida’s citrus growers, the release said.
The release said a marketing order establishes, by a vote of the producers, a self-imposed assessment or fee to be used for a variety of industry activities, including advertising and promoting their agricultural products, expanding markets and distribution channels, researching improved growing techniques, regulating the quality and grades of their products, regulating trade practices, and resolving other critical problems and needs in the industry.
For more information on the referendum, please visit: www.fdacs.gov/Divisions-Offices/Fruit-and-Vegetables.
