Benefits Of Citrus Box Tax In Jeopardy
December 15, 2015 In the next three months, Florida citrus growers will have to decide whether to extend for another six years the citrus box tax.
While eliminating something that eats into the bottom line would normally be a no-brainer for a struggling industry, proceeds of the excise tax help pay for HLB research at the University of Florida’s Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) as well as other research universities and laboratories.
The Citrus Research and Development Foundation’s Box Tax Advisory Council voted unanimously in June to recommend continuation of the citrus box tax at the current assessment rate of $.03 per harvested box for the last year of the current referendum (fiscal year 2015-2016).
Loading ...The Florida citrus industry established the Citrus Research and Development Foundation in 2010 to combat HLB. The foundation’s budget has been $16-19 million annually – with the funding coming from the research box tax, as well as marketing/promotion box taxes, state and federal funds, and donations. The vast majority goes directly to HLB-based research projects.
Almost all of CREC’s scientists in Lake Alfred are striving to stopping the disease. Their funding comes from the box tax, in addition to legislative appropriations and research grants.
There are more than a few research trials in progress with the ultimate goal of defeating HLB. Among these projects are trying to suppress the psyllid, breeding citrus rootstocks that shows better HLB resistance, and bactericides.
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