Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper announced the Georgia Citrus Commission will vote on their assessment from April 1st – April 30th, 2024. Stakeholders can vote on allocating resources to support projects led by the University of Georgia (UGA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). All producers capable of marketing more than 50,000 pounds are eligible to vote on the assessment.
The collected funds are earmarked exclusively for research, education, and promotional efforts. Research efforts will tackle production challenges, diseases, variety development, fertility, and post-harvest issues. To ensure equitable contribution from producers, the Commission has established an assessment rate within the market order, capped at two-tenths of a cent ($0.002) per pound of packed and marketed fruit. This assessment applies to Georgia producers engaged in or with the potential to sell fifty thousand pounds (50,000 lbs.) or more of citrus fruit annually.
To be approved, 25 percent of the distributed ballots must be returned by growers. Among these, a vote of at least 66 percent or two-thirds in favor is required. The Georgia Department of Agriculture will announce the voting results by the end of May 2024. The marketing order will remain in effect for three years, subject to renewal by growers through another vote at that time.Additionally, ballots must be fully completed, and the return envelope must be signed and postmarked by April 30th, 2024.
For assistance or questions, contact Andy Harrison at 404-710-1196 or email andy.harrison@agr.georgia.gov. Georgia growers who have not received a ballot should also contact Andy Harrison for assistance.
About the Georgia Citrus Commission
In 2023, at the request of Georgia citrus growers, the Georgia legislature created the Georgia Agriculture Commodity Commission for Citrus (Georgia Citrus Commission) HB545, which was signed into law by Governor Brian Kemp. The Commodity Promotion Act allows the Citrus Commission to develop a Marketing Order that enables the assessment of citrus fruit packed and marketed to support the Commission.
About the GDA
The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) is the voice of the state’s agriculture community. The department’s mission is to provide excellence in services and regulatory functions, to protect and promote agriculture and consumer interests, and to ensure an abundance of safe food and fiber for Georgia, America, and the world by using state-of-the-art technology and a professional workforce.
