Influential Growers Call For A Greatly Reduced Florida Department Of Citrus

Posted by Frank Giles|February 17, 2016

In a sign of the difficult times brought on by HLB, 12 of Florida’s largest citrus growers, packers, and processors have proposed the Florida Department Of Citrus (FDOC) curtail current operations down to the barest of functions until the industry rebuilds after a solution to HLB is found.

In a letter to Florida Citrus Commission chairman Ellis Hunt Jr., the growers propose cutting the operating budget of FDOC by more than 75%. In addition, it recommends cutting grower assessments by about 70% to 7 cents per box for processed oranges and grapefruit and specialty fresh citrus. The proposal would cut FDOC staff from 43 to 10. The letter emphasized continued support for the 3-cent box tax dedicated to research remitted to the Citrus Research and Development Foundation, which recently was approved overwhelmingly by grower referendum.

The letter also suggests that given declines brought on by HLB, the FDOC can’t meet its obligations, noting: We support recent department efforts to deal with the difficult budget realities, but while programs and staff levels have recently been slightly streamlined, tax rates remain burdensomely high. Moreover, because of the dramatic crop declines, we believe the department does not have adequate resources to “move the needle.” And, with the current supply/demand situation, we do not believe the current marketing programs are generating an economic return for Florida growers.

Other suggestions to streamline the FDOC budget include:

Major marketing programs should be idled and the budget should provide for minimal public relations only (maintain website, some advocacy efforts, debunking inaccurate press regarding orange and grapefruit juice and fresh fruit consumption).
Idle new scientific, economic, and market research projects.
Streamline operations, outsource wherever possible (with other state agencies, with consultants) to cut overhead.
Maintain the legal, regulatory, and licensing functions.
Maintain statistical reporting on fruit pricing, inventories and movement, Nielsen sales reports, and the overall industry economic outlook.

The Florida Citrus Commission Chairman Ellis Hunt Jr. said of the letter: “We serve on the Commission on behalf of the growers who pay the tax that has funded the FDOC for over 80 years. We take this letter – and the opinions of each of Florida’s citrus growers, however large or small they may be – very seriously. We recognize the unprecedented challenges citrus greening has posed for our industry; we fully expect to make difficult decisions. In fact, the delivery of the letter comes just weeks after I had directed staff to prepare for major budget reductions, driven by expectations for lower crops as well as possible tax relief. I am certain that this letter and the dynamics which have prompted it will be discussed at our next meeting, and I know that the Commission will take appropriate action with an eye toward the interests of the growers we serve.”