Bartow, Fla – The Florida Department of Citrus was awarded $550,000 through the USDA’s Agricultural Trade Promotion Program (ATP). The FDOC applied for these funds in November to combat the adverse effects of retaliatory tariffs in the Canadian market on not-from-concentrate orange juice, which happens to be produced primarily in Florida.
“These funds allow us to support Florida Citrus with fresh Florida orange programs in Canada and increase programming in South Korea for Florida Orange Juice,” said Shannon Shepp, executive director of the Florida Department of Citrus. “This funding helps ensure that our Florida growers are able to continue to deliver the best citrus products around the world.”
The ATP funds will become available for the 2019/2020 season and may be used from one to up to three seasons. The FDOC, with stakeholder input, has implemented a pilot program for Fresh Florida Oranges in the Canadian market which is focused on in-store and at-home juicing in several retailers. This program is allowing the FDOC to explore the possibilities that a Fresh Florida Orange program could provide and offer assistance to exporters of Fresh Orange to Canada as early as this season.
About the Florida Department of Citrus
The Florida Department of Citrus is an executive agency of Florida government charged with the marketing, research and regulation of the Florida citrus industry. Its activities are funded by a tax paid by growers on each box of citrus that moves through commercial channels. The industry employs 45,000 people, provides an annual economic impact of $8.6 billion to the state, and contributes hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenues that help support Florida’s schools, roads and health care services. Click here for morning information about the Florida Department of Citrus.
