Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaJanuary 12, 2017

The latest estimates show “a slight decrease” in Florida orange production to 71 million boxes for the 2016-17 season, according to the Florida Department of Citrus. The department on Thursday shared the results of the most recent U.S. Department of Agriculture forecast, the first in 2017. The state’s citrus industry has been hurt by the citrus greening epidemic. The so-far incurable disease […]

Jim RosicaDecember 9, 2016

Florida’s production of orange crop will hold steady at 72 million boxes for the 2016-17 season, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported Friday. The “all orange” forecast, equal to 3.24 million tons, is “unchanged from last month but down 12 percent from last season’s final utilization,” the department’s latest forecast says. Moreover, the Florida frozen concentrated orange juice […]

Jim RosicaOctober 12, 2016

The federal government is forecasting a 14 percent decrease in Florida orange production next year and a drop in grapefruit of 11.5 percent. The National Agriculture Statistics Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture released its report Wednesday. In another sign of the citrus greening epidemic facing the industry, the service foresees yields of only 70 million boxes of […]

Jim RosicaMay 18, 2016

The Florida Department of Citrus could get a pared-down budget that will result in staff cuts. The Citrus Commission, which oversees the department, meets Wednesday to consider the $20.6 million spending plan. If approved, the department’s full-time employees would be reduced to 23 from 39. Commissioners won’t vote on that budget, but will offer “feedback,” department spokeswoman Shelley Rossetter said. The […]

Jim RosicaApril 8, 2016

Faced with a call from Florida’s leading growers for the state’s Department of Citrus to “be scaled back considerably,” Gov. Rick Scott has put restrictions on the nearly $7.7 million in general revenue given to the agency in the 2016-17 state budget. One condition, The Lakeland Ledger reported Friday, is that the Governor’s Office will look […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 16, 2016

With the state’s citrus industry in free-fall, Florida’s leading growers are calling for the Department of Citrus to “be scaled back considerably,” saying they “do not believe current marketing programs are generating an economic return.” A dozen growers, including Florida Citrus Hall of Famer Ben Hill Griffin III, signed and sent a letter Monday to Florida Citrus Commission […]

Tag: Florida Department of Citrus
Image via AP.

Citrus crop production trending down again ‘slightly’

USDA says Florida orange crop projected to hold steady

Citrus production forecast remains in freefall

Citrus Department facing smaller budget, staff cuts

Rick Scott clamping down on finances at state citrus agency

State’s growers call for dramatic overhaul of Florida Department of Citrus