The Florida Department of Citrus will hold a meeting this Wednesday, January 15, 9A.M. at the Florida Department of Citrus, 1115 East Memorial Blvd., Lakeland, Florida, (863) 499-2500 to discuss amendments to rules affecting registration of organic citrus groves and ticketing of fruit.
I have summarized the rules below.
Organic Grove Registration Program
An Organic Grove Registration Program will be established to aid enforcement of citrus fruit labeling and to assist in estimates of organic citrus fruit volume as follows:
1) All producing groves placing fruit in commercial channels will be registered with the Division of Fruit and Vegetables
2) Such registration will include:
documentation of current organic certification
name of grove property owner
grove location referenced by GPS
citrus cultivars
estimates of current season production
3) All commercial organic fruit will be harvested and accompanied by an organic trip ticket when transported on state highways. The trip ticket will be numbered in sequence and in a form approved by the Division of Fruit and Vegetable Inspection, along with a warning label indicating a $10,000 fine/violation for making false statements or knowingly labeling or selling a product as organic in violation of the national organic laws.
4) Separate trip tickets must be used for fruit from separate groves and organic fruit shall not be mixed with nonorganic fruit in a mixed load.