Photo by Jake Price, University of Georgia Extension
In 2023, at the request of Georgia citrus producers, the Georgia Agricultural Citrus Commission (Georgia Citrus Commission) was created under the Georgia Commodity Promotion Act. Under the Commodity Promotion Act, the Georgia Citrus Commission is allowed to create a marketing order that allows for collection of an assessment on marketed fruit.
This marketing order was voted on and approved by growers in April with an approval rate of 94%. The assessment rate approved is two tenths of a cent per pound of marketed fruit ($0.002 per pound).
Georgia growers who produce and market 50,000 pounds or more of citrus fruit on a seasonal basis are subject to and required to pay the assessment. This is applicable even if an out-of-state marketer or packer handles a grower’s citrus fruit.
Even if producers do not meet the minimum poundage requirement of 50,000 pounds on a seasonal basis, they are asked to report their poundage. This will allow the Georgia Citrus Commission to better track the state’s total production.
If a packer or marketer handles and sells the fruit, the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) asks the marketer/packer to collect the assessment from the producer’s settlement, report and pay to the Georgia Citrus Commission on the producer’s behalf. However, it is ultimately the grower’s responsibility for the assessment to be paid. The marketer/packer form can be accessed here.
Growers who self-market their fruit are responsible for paying the assessment and reporting to the Georgia Citrus Commission. The grower form can be accessed here.
The GDA urges growers to pay assessments monthly, but the final payment is due no later than 30 days after growers are finished marketing the fruit. Payment is to be made to the Georgia Citrus Commission. The GDA has field auditors who will be conducting audits to verify correct payment is collected on fruit marketed.
Under the Commodity Promotion Act, funds can only be used for areas of research, education and promotion of the commodity. The Georgia Citrus Commission’s primary focus is to support research projects that impact the state’s citrus production, plant breeding, pest management and fruit handling.
Source: Georgia Farm Bureau
Share this Post
Sponsored Content