The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that it will hold a public hearing on 24 April to discuss proposed modifications to the federal marketing order for Florida-grown oranges, grapefruit, tangerines and tangelos.
The hearing will be held at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and will be extended an additional day, if needed, to ensure sufficient time to hear comments.
Proposed amendments, recommended by the Citrus Administrative Committee, would authorise the regulation of new citrus fruit varieties and hybrids, regulate intrastate fruit shipments and authorise different pack and container requirements for in-state, out-of-state and foreign shipments, among a number of other changes.
If the evidence presented at the hearing favours the proposed modifications and the USDA determines that the revisions will enhance the marketing order’s operation, USDA will conduct a referendum.
