The Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) Foundation recently reported it has already issued more than $12 million in grower payments for CRAFT Year 7 programs and completed more than 600 contracts. Executive Director Steven Hall issued the following program updates:
FAST TRACK PROGRAM
- Fast Track project trees must be planted, and CRAFT must be notified that planting has been completed by Dec. 31 to be eligible for payment.
- CRAFT Fast Track contracts do not require that trees be planted with individual protective covers (IPCs). Growers may elect to add IPCs, but the trees must be planted by the deadline.
- When planting is completed, email Carisa Keller (carisa@craftfdn.org) to request a post-planting audit be scheduled. The assigned auditor will contact the grower to schedule the audit.
- Post-planting audits are underway, and participation payments are being issued for audited plantings.
CYCLE 7 TRADITIONAL PROGRAM
- CRAFT has several hundred contracts to finalize and send.
- Applicants will have 10 days from receipt of their contracts to return them or risk project termination.
- Required leases or notarized letters of authorization must extend through 2032 and must be submitted with the executed contract if not previously submitted with the application.
- All applicants have been notified of their final approved tree count by email and confirmed their project designs.
- Contact your nursery to submit or adjust tree orders.
- The funding for your approved number of trees is reserved for your project(s), and Cycle 7 trees must be planted by June 30, 2027.
- Following the receipt of your Cycle 7 contract, proof of your paid tree deposit is due to CRAFT by Dec. 31. Missing this deadline may result in project termination.
- Submit a nursery invoice that indicates the tree deposit has been paid and the claim form (attachment 3 of the CRAFT contract) by the Dec. 31 deadline via email to Tina Buice (Tina@craftfdn.org).
- Initial grower payments are expected to begin in January 2026.
- When planting is completed, email Carisa Keller (Carisa@craftfdn.org) to request a post-planting audit be scheduled.
EMERGING VARIETIES PROGRAM
CRAFT expects to begin issuing contracts for the Emerging Varieties projects in January 2026. The deadline to submit proof of the paid tree deposit for the Emerging Varieties contracts will be announced later. This delay will allow CRAFT to complete an anticipated contract with the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC). If approved, the contract with FDOC would provide CRAFT with funding for the limited purpose of offsetting some of the royalties that must be paid by growers for planting five of the varieties included in the Emerging Varieties program.
EXISTING TREE THERAPIES (ETT) PROGRAM
CRAFT has allocated more than $8 million in funding for this year’s ETT program, which includes the waitlist from the 2024 application cycle. CRAFT expects to begin issuing these contracts no later than January 2026.
CRAFT urges growers to respond promptly to emails from CRAFT. Questions may be directed to Hall at Steven@craftfdn.org or 863-333-2931.
Source: CRAFT
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