Pummelos Exempted From Florida Marketing Order

Josh McGill Fresh, Regulation

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) on March 9 announced a change to the Florida citrus marketing order that exempts pummelos from all marketing order requirements. The change was made at the recommendation of the Citrus Administrative Committee (CAC), which administers the order. The committee, comprised primarily of growers and handlers of fresh citrus, made the recommendation …

Florida Growers to Vote on Marketing Order Amendments

Josh McGill Marketing, Regulation

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will conduct a referendum April 3–May 1 on proposed amendments to the federal marketing order regulating the handling of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines and pummelos grown in Florida. Notice of the referendum was published in the Federal Register on Jan. 18, 2023. The proposed amendments would include reducing the size and quorum requirements of the …

Packinghouse Day Featured Updates and Award

Josh McGill Awards, Events, Fresh

Over 60 citrus industry representatives gathered Aug. 25 for the 61st annual Packinghouse Day at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred. They heard updates on H-2A visa options for packinghouse workforce needs, an overview of citrus fruit export requirements and an update on food safety auditing. Faculty …

Hunt Bros. Packinghouse Closing

Josh McGill Packing

The Hunt Bros. citrus packinghouse in Lake Wales will close for good at the end of this season, primarily due to the impacts of Hurricane Irma on company groves in 2017. The family-owned packinghouse opened in 1928. Frank Hunt III, an owner, discussed the closing in an April 22 letter to employees: “It was certainly our desire to keep it …

Citrus Administrative Committee to Hold Nomination Meeting

Josh McGill Events, Fresh, Regulation

A nomination meeting for the Citrus Administrative Committee (CAC) will be held via Zoom at 10 a.m. on April 21. The meeting may be accessed here. Nominations for all grower districts, as well as a shipper/handler meeting, will be conducted. The CAC Nominating Committee has offered a draft slate for consideration, but additional nominations are encouraged and can be offered …