20-48.004. Allocation; Disbursement of Funds

(1) Funds prorated for non-commodity programs for fresh grapefruit shall be set aside by the Department of Citrus each shipping season. Such funds shall be used to reward supermarket retailers in the U.S. only – on a per-carton basis – for promotional support of fresh Florida grapefruit.

(2) The Department of Citrus shall establish Targeted VAP participant appropriations by August 31.

(3) Targeted VAP dollars to the participant shall be allocated based on the percentage of total domestic (U.S. only) shipments of grapefruit the participant shipped during the prior year, but in no case shall it be less than $5,000 per said participant. A participant who does not have a prior year record shall receive an allocation of $5,000.

(4) At least 50% of each participant’s allocation shall be earmarked and spent for use in Department of Citrus media markets.

(5) By October 25 of each program year, the Department of Citrus shall survey program participants asking them to declare their intent to use allocated funds. Participants intending to use their allocated funds shall further indicate to the Department if they plan to use the funds in a cooperative venture with another entity, or request that the Department execute the plan on the supplier’s behalf through Department of Citrus field merchandising staff directly with retailers of participants choice.

(6) Prior to January 15 of each program year, the Department of Citrus shall survey program participants as to whether or not they intend to use uncommitted program funds; at that time program participants may elect to reassign uncommitted funds into generic Department of Citrus programs, effective February 1.

(7) If, by June 1 of each program year, participant has utilized 80% or more of their allocated funds, they will not be adjusted the following season. If, on June 1, participant has used less than 80% of their funds, they will be capped at that level for the following season.

(8) The participant shall be responsible for one-fourth the cost of each individual advertising promotion. The Florida Department of Citrus shall be responsible for the remaining three-fourths, so long as net claims for such costs are not in excess of participant’s allocation. Participant contributions to the advertising programs must be forwarded to Department before payment is made to the retailer. Payment will be forwarded by the Department directly to the participant’s designated retail customer.

(9) Participant will not be responsible for matching funds on media promotions. Payment will be made by the Department directly to retailer involved for demonstration promotion scheduled at participant’s request. Media demo programs will be fully reimbursed (up to $5,000). All other demo programs are eligible to be reimbursed at the rate of non-media promotions scheduled in conjunction with Department media programs in selected markets.

(10) All claims must be submitted and filed with the Department no later than July 31 of each shipping season and must include FOB pricing, movement, and an explanation of the volumetric variance when movement during promotion period was significantly less than anticipated on Participant’s commitment form. A Targeted Value-Added Promotion Program Evaluation form CIT/MKTG/154 EFF. 10/20/99, incorporated herein by reference, must accompany each claim or payment to retailer cannot be processed. Claims that are incomplete or otherwise late will be rejected by the Department with written notification to the participant.

(11) Implementation of this program is subject to the appropriation of funds for use in this program.

Rulemaking Authority 601.15 FS. Law Implemented 601.15 FS. History–New 11-17-97, Amended 12-6-98, 2-3-00, 11-29-00.