ISSUE 1115
OPTIONS
FOR MOVING FRESH CITRUS EXPLORED The
Florida citrus industry is looking at three possible options it will need to adapt
to if it is to move fruit into other citrus producing states or the European Union.
The
options were explored at a meeting Friday (May 12) of the Citrus Canker Technical
Advisory Task Force. They are: 1) no Florida citrus should go to citrus-producing
states, 2) fruit from quarantined portions of the state (“blocks”) would
not be eligible for movement to those states, and 3) a 3,800-foot zone would be
developed around positive finds, where only fruit grown outside that zone would
be allowed to enter citrus-producing states (or the EU) provided strict regulations
were followed. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division
of Plant Industry is currently working on the last option. State
officials also pointed out at the meeting, which FFVA attended, that many producers
are not aware that canker and greening surveys continue and decontamination requirements
are still in place, although the focus is now on management rather than eradication. ALSO IN THIS WEEK'S RAP-UP (Members-Only articles are indicated in bold.) | |
