WINTER HAVEN — Florida citrus growers will be asked next month to put some more of their skin in the game by renewing a state tax to support research against the industry’s biggest threat.
By Jan. 20, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services plans to mail thousands of ballots to grove owners of record, asking them to renew a tax of 3 cents per box on the annual harvest of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines and tangelos for another six years. The tax will raise nearly $2.5 million on the projected 2015-16 citrus harvest of 82.6 million boxes.
The deadline for returning the ballots is scheduled for Feb. 11 with results expected 10 days later. Renewal of the tax requires approval by at least 65 percent of voters who own at least 51 percent of the state’s 501,396 commercial grove acres.
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