December 24, 2007

ISSUE 1198

FLORIDA GROWERS WIN CITRUS COURT CASE

A Tallahassee judge let stand new rules requiring California citrus growers who wish to ship product to Florida to add inspections, fungus treatments and paperwork certifying their fruit is not infected with the fungus Septoria citri.

The California growers had requested a temporary injunction against enforcing the rules, which the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services put in place earlier this month. They have suggested that the rules are in retaliation for California’s refusal to allow Florida fresh fruit into their state because of the possibility it is infected with citrus canker.

Circuit Judge William Gary issued the ruling Dec.19 following a daylong hearing Dec. 18. He said the California growers had failed to show that the new rules are unconsitutional or that the rules, when implemented, would cause irreparable harm.