Florida Agriculture Department Announces Results of Citrus Research Order Referendum

This week, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) announced that Florida’s citrus growers reauthorized the Florida citrus research order in a statutorily required referendum conducted by the department.

The results of the ballots returned yielded 76 percent “yes” votes representing 69 percent total acres.

The Citrus Research and Development Foundation serves as the advisory council of record for the research order, and 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.