FOUNDATION RENAMED TO REFLECT SPECIALTY CROP FOCUS
The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Research & Education Foundation has been renamed the Florida Specialty Crop Foundation, Executive Director Mike Carlton announced June 19. The name change is part of a reorganization that began when Carlton was named as the foundation’s first full-time executive director in January.
“The new name clearly and succinctly focuses on the scope of the foundation’s mission and membership,” Carlton said. The changes were prompted by the board of directors’ goal of expanding the foundation’s role in research, education and philanthropic support of the farmworker community.
The foundation also unveiled a new logo, and it soon will launch a new Web site at www.floridaspecialtycropfoundation.org. Carlton said the foundation will step up its research efforts with funding through a new annual giving campaign.
OJ TAX INCREASES, PRE-HARVEST INSPECTIONS MAY BE DROPPED
The Florida Citrus Commission increased the state tax on juice oranges June 20 to 24 cents per box for the 2007-08 season, a 9 percent increase over the current rate of 22 cents per box. It is the fourth consecutive increase. The commission settled on the rate after defeating proposals for both higher and lower rates.
In other citrus news, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service may eliminate mandatory pre-harvest grove inspection for all Florida citrus shipped to noncitrus-producing states.
Instead, sampling would be required for each lot of citrus at the packinghouse to ensure the fruit is disease-free. USDA proposed the change because a recently completed risk management analysis concluded that a mandatory packinghouse inspection of commercially packed fruit provides an effective safeguard to prevent the spread of citrus canker.
The ban on shipping Florida citrus to citrus-producing states would remain.
WEDGWORTH LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR CLASS VII
The Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture & Natural Resources is accepting nominations for Class VII participants in one of Florida’s premier agricultural leadership programs. The two-year comprehensive program, which will begin in November 2007, is designed to develop the leadership skills of participants involved in private agricultural enterprises in Florida through various training sessions, workshops and travel to Washington, D.C., and abroad.
Ideal candidates for this program are 25-45 years of age and are involved in the private sector of Florida’s agriculture and natural resources industries and demonstrate strong leadership potential.
Please visit the Institute website, click here or call Hannah Carter at (352) 392-1038 for a nomination form. The deadline for nominations is July 31.
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY HONORS WEDGWORTH
Michigan State University honored George H. Wedgworth, president, CEO, chairman of the board, and a director of the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative (SCGC) of Florida, at a May 5 banquet.
He received the 2007 Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award in recognition of his professional leadership, public service, and personal accomplishments.
Wedgworth served as FFVA president from 1965 to 1967 and was instrumental in founding many joint marketing organizations.
FLORIDA AGRI-WOMEN SELECTS FOUNDERS’ AWARD WINNER
Sugar grower Ardis Hammock of Moore Haven will receive the Florida Agri-Women’s 2007 Founders’ Award. The award presentation takes place Aug. 4 at the 4th Annual Founders’ Day Dinner at River Ranch Resort.
Tickets to the event are available by calling Katie Edwards at (305) 246-5514. Last year’s Founders’ Award winner was Cammy Hinton of Hinton Farms, Dover.
