New Funding for CRAFT Emerging Varieties Program

The Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) Foundation recently provided information about a new funding opportunity for growers participating in the Emerging Varieties (EV) Program.

CRAFT received additional funding from the Florida Department of Citrus, which will be used to reimburse growers for some of their costs associated with the royalties for five of the varieties included in the EV Program.

ORANGES
For EV project agreements that include Hamlin N14-10, sweet orange UF OLL-DC-3-36 and sweet orange UF OLL-DC-3-40, the participant will be reimbursed up to $1 per approved tree for royalty costs. The participant must submit the following via email to tina@craftfdn.org by March 31:

1. The completed Claim Form and Participation Invoice (Contract Attachment 3)
2. An invoice from a registered Florida citrus nursery, demonstrating proof of paid royalties for the project trees

The royalties for these three varieties are paid by the growers through the nursery to New Varieties Development & Management Corporation. CRAFT requests that the nursery provide the grower a separate invoice demonstrating proof of payment for the royalties. The invoice must include the CRAFT contract number (i.e., 2026-XXXXEV) and be marked as “paid.” 

ROOTSTOCKS
EV projects that include the CarriCea T1 or BeneCea D1 rootstocks will be reimbursed up to $6 per approved tree for royalty costs. Participants must submit the following via email to tina@craftfdn.org by April 30:

1. The completed Claim Form and Participation Invoice (Contract Attachment 3)
2. An invoice from Soilcea demonstrating proof of paid royalties for the project trees

Growers will need to return to CRAFT proof of payment for these royalties from Soilcea. The invoice must include the CRAFT contract number (i.e., 2026-XXXXEV) and be marked as “paid.”

For example, if the annual royalty payment is $2 per tree, a grower may prepay the first three years of royalty payments up front and request reimbursement. Funding will not exceed $6 per tree, and no additional reimbursements will be provided after the April 30 deadline.

Source: CRAFT