Research Funding Cut by Florida Citrus Department

In January 2018, the Florida Department of Citrus cut $70,000 from its scientific research, marketing, and administration budgets. The Department, which is funded through a “box” tax on citrus, indicated that the adjustment was necessary in light of lower than expected revenues. According to the Department, revenues have fallen in recent years due to declining citrus production, resulting from citrus-greening disease and destruction from Hurricane Irma.