DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES
Division of Marketing and Development
Results of Florida Citrus Research Order Referendum Announced
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced today that Florida’s citrus growers reauthorized the Florida citrus research order in a statutorily required referendum conducted by the department. More than 87 percent of ballots received by the department were in favor of reauthorization. The results of the ballots returned are as follows:
702 total ballots counted
87.89% Yes (617 “YES” votes representing 166,646 acres [90.46%])
12.11% No (85 “NO” votes representing 17,574 acres [9.54%])
The Citrus Research and Development Foundation serves as the advisory council of record for the research order. The Citrus Research and Development Foundation was created to conduct disease and production research to ensure the survival and competitiveness of Florida’s citrus growers.
A marketing order establishes, by 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.
