Florida citrus assessment to increase

Effective Aug. 21, the assessment rate for Florida citrus will increase to 2 cents per carton, up from the previous rate of 1.5 cents per carton, which has been in place since 2018-19.

The USDA published a final rule to raise the assessment, implementing a recommendation from the Citrus Administrative Committee, according to a Federal Register notice.

The committee met on Aug. 8, 2023, and recommended 2023-24 fiscal period expenditures of $124,624 and an assessment rate of two cents per 4/5 bushel carton or equivalent of citrus handled for the 2023-24 and subsequent fiscal periods. The committee recommended increasing the assessment rate to better align assessment revenue with budgeted expenses, the notice said.

The committee projects handler receipts of approximately 6.7 million cartons or equivalent of citrus for the 2023-24 fiscal period, which is higher than the 4.7 million cartons handled in the 2022-23 fiscal period.

By increasing the assessment rate by half a cent, assessment income for the Citrus Administrative Committee will be approximately $134,000 for the 2023-24 season, up from a projected $100,000 if the assessment had not increased.

The total expenditures recommended by the committee for the 2023-24 fiscal period are approximately $124,624. The major budgeted expenditures include $99,624 for management; $10,000 for auditing; and $5,000 for data from the Division of Fruits and Vegetables. By comparison, budgeted expenditures for these activities in the 2022-23 fiscal period were $97,680; $10,000; and $5,000, respectively.

There are 14 handlers of Florida citrus who are subject to regulation under the order and approximately 500 citrus producers in the regulated area, the notice said.