Growers Gather at Mutual Meeting

Florida Citrus Mutual held its board of directors meeting on Dec. 10 at Kenny Sanders’ barn and grove in Zolfo Springs. Afterward, lunch was served, and a grower information meeting was held.

Steven Hall, executive director of the Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) Foundation gave an update on the latest round of program funding. CRAFT was awarded more than $100 million from the Florida legislature this year. Applications for CRAFT programs roughly doubled that amount of money. In order to spread the dollars to as many growers as possible, CRAFT is awarding accepted applicants with about 50% of their request.

Hall reminded attendees that received funding for the Fast Track Planting Program that those trees need to be planted by Dec. 31, and CRAFT must be notified of that planting by the same date. The Fast Track Planting Program has commitments to plant 332,000 trees. CRAFT funding this year for all programs will provide money to plant more than 2 million trees.

Dec. 31 also marks the deadline for which growers must provide CRAFT with proof of paid tree deposits for the Traditional Planting Program. Hall said the nurseries are waiting for the phone calls to get the tree deposits secured before the first of the year.

The Florida Department of Citrus is releasing $2 million in additional funds that will help offset some of the royalty fees required for trees under CRAFT’s Emerging Variety Program.

“I am pleased to also announce the CRAFT board approved at least $8 million for the Existing Therapies Program this year,” Hall said. “We have a significant waitlist from round three of applications, and the board approved us to work through those contracts. Then we will start with the applications from round four.”