Southeast AgNET

Comments in this story from Ben Albritton, wearing his grower and grove caretaker hat when asked what he would say to growers having to deal with standing water in their groves from recent storm activity. Albritton is also Chairman of the Florida Citrus Commission right now, and was among several hundred citrus growers attending the re-scheduled Citrus Expo Seminars Thursday at UF/CREC at Lake Alfred.

In this report we share reaction comments from citrus grower & caretaker, who’s also Citrus Commission Chairman Ben Albritton of Wauchula, who offers these comments about the re-scheduled Citrus Expo seminars attended by about 350 growers and others Thursday September 4. To Ben and all the other 350 or so growers who participated at both locations we also say “Thanks” for coming out on what was a beautiful day at UF’s Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) at Lake Alfred, and the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center (SWFREC) in Immokalee.

Below are two reports with Florida Dept of Citrus Executive Director Ken Keck. In the first, Keck explains the background of staff cuts over the past six years. In the second, Keck discusses the need to maintain a core team at FDOC to manage ongoing marketing activities while some FDOC dollars now go toward research too.

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In this week’s Friday Features on Florida Dept of Citrus (FDOC) news, an update from Executive Director Peter Chaires of the New Varieties Development and Management Corporation (NVDMC), which FDOC funds in an effort to find and develop new citrus varieties to help keep Florida growers competitive into the future.
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In the first of these two weekly features on Florida Department of Citrus News, Chairman Ben Albritton Jr discusses budget matters and how up to $20-million dollars being set aside for possible investments into research could impact orange juice advertising next season. In the second report, Albritton discusses the possibility that Florida Citrus Mutual may be able to handle FDOC lobbying efforts in Tallahassee and Washington D C, as one way of saving Department dollars.
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In these reports, follow up to this week’s Florida Citrus Commission meeting where the Florida Department of Citrus budget was tentatively approved to potentially include up to 20 million dollars for citrus research as needed. Chairman Ben Albritton Jr talks more about the reasons behind the decision, and how growers and industry are pulling together to address their biggest concerns in a cooperative manner. Report (1:30 mp3) Report (1:30 mp3)

At this week’s Citrus Commission meeting at the Florida Department of Citrus in Lakeland, the FDOC budget for the coming season was a main topic of discussion. Southeast AgNet’s Ernie Neff was on the scene and files this report. Report (1:30 mp3)

In the first report, Citrus Commission Chairman Ben Albritton Jr shares his feelings about citrus greening disease, as one citrus grower speaking to others. In the second report, comments from Florida Department of Citrus Executive Director Ken Keck explaining FDOC proposals that could divert as much as 20 million grower dollars next season from marketing initiatives into research.
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In these reports, Citrus Commission Chairman Ben Albritton Jr responds to those who may question Department of Citrus budget proposals to hold up to 20 million dollars for greening research in case it is needed.
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At Florida Citrus Mutual’s annual conference this week, some questioned Florida Department of Citrus decisions about throwing some funding recently behind the citrus greening research efforts. In these reports, FDOC Executive Director Ken Keck reviews the reasoning behind the move, and explains the process FDOC will go through to help in the research effort.
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In the first of these two weekly features on Florida Department of Citrus marketing efforts Pete Palmer, FDOC Director of Retail Communications, comments on the effectiveness of today’s streamlined retail marketing team which calls on management of huge retail grocers. In the second report, follow up comments from FDOC Research Director Bob Norberg about Market Accountability Studies that should help to keep FDOC marketing efforts on point. Report (2:00 mp3) Report (1:00 mp3)

More in these reports about results from a return-on-investment study performed by Marketing Accountability Partnership (MAP)for the Florida Department of Citrus. In the first report, the firm’s managing director, Neil Canter, (photo left) discusses the effectiveness of the on-line advertising done recently by FDOC, and says more will be learned in regular updates to the study as time moves forward. In the second report, FDOC’s Director of Research Dr Bob Norberg (photo right) says this type of accountability study is cutting edge and should provide a good management tool for FDOC marketers in the future.
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In these two reports, comments from Neil Canter, Managing Dir of Marketing Accountability Partnership, a firm hired by the Florida Dept of Citrus in January to study the return on investment of grower dollars going into FDOC’s marketing efforts. According to Canter, the study shows about a three to one return. Hear his comments as he explains the numbers and discusses details of the study. Report (1:30 mp3) Report (1:30 mp3)

Southeast AgNet’s Ernie Neff reports from this week’s Florida Citrus Commission meeting. In the first report, Florida Department of Citrus budget proposals include up to $20 million to support greening and canker research. In the second, details about a study indicating FDOC advertising gives citrus growers a 300 percent return on investment.
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In these two reports, interesting comments about a modern in-store marketing technique that takes advantage of key in-store locations and modern shopping habits. Retail Communications Director Pete Palmer at the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) says the spring campaign used 15-second in-store videos to reach shoppers at a critical time when making their final purchase decisions. Report (2:00 mp3) Report (2:00 mp3)

Recently wrapping up another series of localized grower meetings around Florida, Citrus Mutual leaders say they are pleased with the turnout and feedback derived from the gatherings. Meanwhile, members like new Mutual board member Tom Jerkins, VP & General Manager of Blue Goose Growers (photo left) who spoke to us at the Mutual grower meeting in Vero Beach recently, say Mike Sparks (photo right) at the helm of Mutual is making a positive difference. Hear his comments in these two reports. Report (2:00 mp3) Report (2:00 mp3)

I’ve continued to add segments to this series, so I’m updating this post to be sure our citrus visitors hear what is now this full eight-part series with Dr Robert Davis. Among the scientists gathered in Ft Pierce recently to discuss greening and canker research, Davis is a scientist with USDA at the Beltsville MD lab and a member of the National Academy of Sciences. These reports features his comments about the greening challenge from various angles as he shares his thoughts about the value of the efforts being made by the industry to solve the greening problem.
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In these reports, candid comments from Florida Citrus Commission Chairman Ben Albritton Jr about recent investments of Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) funds to help in citrus greening research efforts. Albritton also discusses the painful but real challenge of some growers not doing what is needed to deal with greening, thereby harming neighboring growers who are trying to control the spread of the disease. Report (Report 2:00 mp3) Report (Report 1:00 mp3)

Southeast AgNet’s Ernie Neff has been attending the meeting in Ft. Pierce of some of the top scientists with the USDA and The National Academy of Sciences where citrus greening was the topic of discussion.  There were some suggestions made and Ernie tells us just what some of these were.

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In this report, comments from University of Florida Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC)Director Dr Harold Browning (in photo), about citrus greening and canker research discussions going on in Ft Pierce involving scientists from UF, USDA and the National Academy of Sciences.
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In these reports Dr Calvin Arnold, Director of USDA’s Horticulture Lab in Ft Pierce, FL, discusses this week’s gathering of scientists from all over the country to discuss greening and canker. Among those expected are teams from USDA’s SWAT Team and scientists from the National Academy of Sciences thanks to a recent investment by the Florida Department of Citrus.
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In this week’s Florida Department of Citrus features, it’s a focus on retail marketing and communications initiatives. In these reports, FDOC Director of Retail Communications Pete Palmer describes the history about how this effort got started, and how working directly with management teams of the nation’s largest retailers, providing them information from FDOC marketing research efforts, is helping these retail chains move a lot more Florida orange and grapefruit juice than before.
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In the first report below, Florida Citrus Mutual spokesman Andrew Meadows explains some of the reasons Citrus Mutual leaders voted to put a hold on attempting a legislative fix to the “Free Rider” issue. In the second report, a reminder of three more Florida Citrus Mutual area grower meeting dates coming up. Report (1:00 mp3) Report (1:00 mp3)

In these reports, Florida Citrus Commission Chairman Ben Albritton Jr speaks candidly about the action by Florida Citrus Mutual this week asking the Citrus Department to put Free Rider fix efforts on hold for now, so legislative proposals could be fine tuned and begun earlier in the legislative process next year. Albritton emphasizes the discussion and exchange between Commissioners, the Department of Citrus and the grower community as represented by Citrus Mutual has been a very positive process. Report (2:00 mp3) Report (1:00 mp3)

Florida Citrus Mutual leaders today discussed and took action on recent Citrus Commission efforts to move forward on a fix for the so-called “Free-Rider” issue. Southeast AgNet’s Ernie Neff has some details in this report, and we’ll have more on this from the newsmakers in the days ahead. Report (1:00 mp3)

In this series of reports, Dr Warren Muir (photo right) of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) discusses a recent decision by Citrus Commissioners to enlist the Academy’s involvement in citrus greening and canker research. Southeast AgNet’s Ernie Neff caught up with Dr Muir to ask for details of how the Academy came about and how they are structured to be able to possibly help the Florida citrus industry. Of particular interest is how scientists who are involved with the Academy actually donate their professional time, while the citrus grower dollars allocated to NAS will be in support of out-of-pocket and NAS systems expenses for these scientific teams to become involved.
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In this report, Southeast AgNet’s Ernie Neff reports on another special Florida Citrus Commission teleconference this week to follow up on the one they had last week. Commissioners are wrestling with what to do to possibly try to fix to the “Free Rider” issue. Report (1:11 mp3)

In this report, Southeast AgNet’s Ernie Neff reports on a special Florida Citrus Commission teleconference this week where commissioners discussed another possible fix to the “Free Rider” issue.   Report (1:30 mp3)

In this report, a preview of a Citrus Commission teleconference scheduled for today, where commissioners are expected to discuss and possibly act on a proposal that could change the way the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) collects its taxes. This is part of the continued efforts of the Commission to address the ‘free rider’ issue, where Florida growers exclusively pay for FDOC programs even though orange juice importers also gain benefits from FDOC promotional and research investments. Report (1:00 mp3)

In this report, comments from USDA/ARS Ft Pierce Lab Director Dr Calvin Arnold, about the recent decision by Florida Citrus Commissioners to engage the National Academy of Sciences in the effort to find answers to citrus greening disease. Report (1:00 mp3)