‘It’s Not a Pretty Picture,’ Industry Leader Tells State Senators

On February 21, leaders of three key Florida citrus organizations acquainted the Florida Senate’s Agriculture Committee with the issues facing the citrus industry. They summarize their presentations:

“It’s not a pretty picture,” says Florida Citrus Mutual CEO Mike Sparks. He describes the huge production losses and increased costs that HLB disease has created. “Right now our whole future revolves around research” and the need to plant 30 million new trees, Sparks says.

Hear more from Sparks:

Harold Browning, chief operations officer of the Citrus Research and Development Foundation, describes the role of the foundation in helping growers with HLB research and its application.

Hear comments from Browning:

Florida Department of Citrus Executive Director Shannon Shepp describes the message that her department is providing to consumers of Florida citrus products.

Hear more from Shepp: