F.S. 601.01 Short title.
This chapter may be cited as the “Florida Citrus Code.”
FLORIDA CITRUS CODE
F.S. Ch. 601
in effectF.S. 601.02 Purposes.
This chapter is passed:
(1)
In the exercise of the police power to protect health and welfare and to stabilize and protect the citrus industry of the state.
(2)
Because the planting, growing, cultivating, spraying, pruning, and fertilizing of citrus groves and the harvesting, hauling, processing, packing, canning, and concentrating of the citrus crop produced thereon is the major agricultural enterprise of Florida and, together with the sale and distribution of said crop, affects the health, morals, and general economy of a vast number of citizens of the state who are either directly or indirectly dependent thereon for a livelihood, and said business is therefore of vast public interest.
(3)
Because it is wise, necessary, and expedient to protect and enhance the quality and reputation of Florida citrus fruit and the canned and concentrated products thereof in domestic and foreign markets.
(4)
To provide means whereby producers, packers, canners, and concentrators of citrus fruit and the canned and concentrated products thereof may secure prompt and efficient inspection and classification of grades of citrus fruit and the canned and concentrated products thereof at reasonable costs, it being hereby recognized that the standardization of the citrus fruit industry of Florida by the proper grading and classification of citrus fruit and the canned and concentrated products thereof by prompt and efficient inspection under competent authority is beneficial alike to producer, packer, shipper, canner, concentrator, carrier, receiver, and consumer in that it furnishes them prima facie evidence of the quality and condition of such products and informs the carrier and receiver of the quality of the products carried and received by them and assures the ultimate consumer of the quality of the products purchased.
(5)
To enable citrus producers collectively to pay assessments to fund marketing and research programs for the direct benefit of the citrus industry of this state. It is the intent of the Legislature that all funds collected under this chapter and the interest accrued on such funds are consideration for a social contract between the state and the citrus growers of the state whereby the state must hold such funds in trust and inviolate and use them only for the purposes prescribed in this chapter.
(6)
To stabilize the Florida citrus industry and to protect the public against fraud, deception, and financial loss through unscrupulous practices and haphazard methods in connection with the processing and marketing of citrus fruit and the canned or concentrated products thereof.
(7)
Because said act is designed to promote the general welfare of the Florida citrus industry, which in turn will promote the general welfare and social and political economy of the state.
In the event any word, phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph, or section of this chapter is declared unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, then such declaration of such unconstitutionality shall not affect the remainder of this chapter, and the unconstitutional portion shall be considered severable, it being the intent of the Legislature that the remainder of this chapter shall continue in full force and effect.
F.S. 601.03 Definitions.
As used in this chapter, the term:
(1)
“Additive” means any foreign substance which, when added to any citrus fruit juice, will change the amount of total soluble solids or anhydrous citric acid therein, or the color or taste thereof, or act as an artificial preservative thereof.
(2)
“Agent” means any person who, on behalf of any citrus fruit dealer, negotiates the consignment, purchase, or sale of citrus fruit, or weighs citrus fruit so that the weight thereof may be used in computing the amount to be paid therefor.
(3)
“Broker” means any person engaged in the business of negotiating the sale or purchase of citrus fruit for others.
(4)
“Canned products” means juices, segments, or sections of citrus fruits sealed in hermetically sealed containers at a concentration that does not exceed 20 degrees Brix and sufficiently processed by heat to ensure preservation of the product, and when regulated by the department, these same products packed in any other manner or in any other type container.
(5)
“Canning plant” means any building, structure, or place where citrus fruit or the juice thereof is canned or prepared for canning at a concentration that does not exceed 20 degrees Brix for market or shipment.
(6)
“Cash buyer” means any person who purchases citrus fruit in this state from the producer for the purpose of resale.
(7)
“Citrus fruit” means all varieties and regulated hybrids of citrus fruit and also means processed citrus products containing 20 percent or more citrus fruit or citrus fruit juice. The term does not, for purposes of this chapter, mean limes, lemons, marmalade, jellies, preserves, candies, or citrus hybrids for which specific standards have not been established by the department.
(8)
“Citrus fruit dealer” means any consignor, commission merchant, consignment shipper, cash buyer, broker, association, cooperative association, express or gift fruit shipper, or person who in any manner makes or attempts to make money or other thing of value on citrus fruit in any manner whatsoever, other than of growing or producing citrus fruit. The term does not include retail establishments whose sales are direct to consumers and not for resale or persons or firms trading solely in citrus futures contracts on a regulated commodity exchange.
(9)
“Citrus hybrids” includes, but is not limited to, hybrids between or among sour orange (
C. aurantium
), pummelo (
C. grandis
), lemon (
C. limon
), lime (
C. aurantifolia
), citron (
C. medica
), grapefruit (
C. paradisi
), tangerine or mandarin orange (
C. reticulata
), sweet orange (
C. sinensis
), tangelo (
C. reticulata
x
C. paradisi
or
C. grandis
), tangor (
C. reticulata
x
C. sinensis
), kumquat (
Fortunella
, species), trifoliate orange (
Poncirus trifoliata
), and varieties of these species.
(10)
“Citrus producing area” means that part or parts of the state in which citrus fruit is grown or produced.
(11)
“Color-add” or “color-added” means the application or use of any coloring matter to any citrus fruit.
(12)
“Coloring matter” means any dye, or any liquid or concentrate or material containing a dye or materials that react to form a dye, used or intended to be used for the purpose of enhancing the color of citrus fruit by the addition of artificial color to the peel thereof. The term does not include any process or treatment of fruit that merely brings out or accelerates the natural color of the fruit.
(13)
“Commission” means the Florida Citrus Commission as head of the department.
(14)
“Commission merchant” means any person engaged in the business of receiving any citrus fruit for sale on commission for or on behalf of another.
(15)
“Concentrated products” means:
(a)
Frozen citrus fruit juice that has a concentration that exceeds 20 degrees Brix and is kept at a sufficiently freezing temperature to ensure preservation of the product; or
(b)
Citrus fruit juice that is sealed in hermetically sealed containers at a concentration that exceeds 20 degrees Brix and is sufficiently processed by heat to ensure preservation of the product.
(16)
“Concentrating plant” means any building, structure, or place where citrus fruit is canned, frozen, or prepared for canning or freezing at a concentration that exceeds 20 degrees Brix for market or shipment.
(17)
“Consignment shipper” means any person who contracts with the producer of citrus fruit for the marketing thereof for the sole account and risk of such producer and who agrees to pay such producer the net proceeds derived from such sale.
(18)
“Consignor” means any person, other than a producer, who ships or delivers to any commission merchant or dealer any citrus fruit for handling, sale, or resale.
(19)
“Degreening room” means any room or place where citrus fruit is placed, with or without the use of heat or any gas, for the purpose of bringing out the natural color of the fruit.
(20)
“Department” means the Department of Citrus.
(21)
“Department of Agriculture” means the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
(22)
“Express or gift fruit shipper” means any person having an established place of business who ships or delivers for transportation in any manner citrus fruit to a consumer and not for the purpose of resale.
(23)
“Fresh fruit juice distributor” means any person extracting and preparing for market or shipment any citrus fruit juice in fresh form.
(24)
“Grapefruit” means the fruit
Citrus paradisi Macf.
, commonly called grapefruit. The term includes the white, red, and pink meated varieties of grapefruit.
(25)
“Handler” means any person engaged within this state in the business of distributing citrus fruit in the primary channel of trade or any person engaged as a processor in the business of processing citrus fruit.
(26)
“Lemons” or “rough lemons” means the acid lemons of
Citrus limon
, including the varieties
eureka, genoa, wheatley, amerfo, belair
, and
villafranca
of the Eureka group; varieties
bonnie brae, kennedy, lisbon, messer, messina
, and
sicily
of the Lisbon group; varieties
meyer, cuban, ponderosa
, and
rough
of the Anomalous group; varieties
dorshapo
and
millsweet
of the Sweet Lemon group; and other varieties not included in this subsection, such as
everbearing, palestine sweet, perrine
, and
spheriola
.
(27)
“Manufacturer” means any person who manufactures, sells or offers for sale, or licenses or offers for license for use any coloring matter, or any soaps, oils, waxes, gases, gas-forming material, or other similar compositions, or the component parts thereof on or in the processing of citrus fruits.
(28)
“Oranges” means the fruit
Citrus sinensis Osbeck
, commonly called sweet oranges.
(29)
“Packinghouse” means any building, structure, or place where citrus fruit is packed or otherwise prepared for market or shipment in fresh form.
(30)
“Person” means any natural person, partnership, association, corporation, trust, estate, or other legal entity.
(31)
“Primary channel of trade” means the routes through which citrus fruit is marketed. Citrus fruit is deemed to be delivered into the primary channel of trade when it is sold or delivered for shipment in fresh form or when it is received and accepted at a canning, concentrating, or processing plant for canning, concentrating, or processing.
(32)
“Processor” means any person engaged within this state in the business of canning, concentrating, or otherwise processing citrus fruit for market other than for shipment in fresh fruit form.
(33)
“Producer” means any person growing or producing citrus in this state for market.
(34)
“Ship” or “shipping” means to move, or cause to be moved, citrus fruit or the canned or concentrated products thereof in intrastate, interstate, or foreign commerce by rail, truck, boat, airplane, or any other means.
(35)
“Shipper” means any person engaged in shipping, or causing to be shipped, citrus fruit or the canned or concentrated products thereof in intrastate, interstate, or foreign commerce, whether as owner, agent, or otherwise.
(36)
“Shipping season” means that period beginning August 1 of one year and ending July 31 of the following year.
(37)
“Sour or bitter oranges” means the fruit of
Citrus aurantium
L. and contains several subspecies. Among the most important are varieties
african, brazilian, rubidoux
, and
standard
of the Normal group; varieties
daidai, goleta,
and
bouquet
of the Aberrant group; variety
chinooto
of the Myrtifolia group; and varieties
bittersweet
and
paraguay
of the Bittersweet group.
(38)
“Standard-packed box” means 1
3
/
5
bushels of citrus fruit, whether in bulk or containers.
(39)
“Tangerines” means the fruit
Citrus reticulata Blanco
, commonly called tangerines.
F.S. 601.04 Florida Citrus Commission; creation and membership.
(1)(a)
There is created within the department the Florida Citrus Commission, which shall be composed of 11 members appointed by the Governor. Each member must be a resident of this state who is and has been actively engaged in the growing, growing and shipping, or growing and processing of citrus fruit in the state for at least 5 years immediately before appointment to the commission and has, during that 5-year period:
1.
Derived a major portion of her or his income from such growing, growing and shipping, or growing and processing of citrus fruit; or
2.
Been the owner of, member of, officer of, or paid employee of a corporation, firm, or partnership that has, during that 5-year period, derived the major portion of its income from such growing, growing and shipping, or growing and processing of citrus fruit.
(b)1.
Seven members of the commission shall be classified as grower members and shall be primarily engaged in the growing of citrus fruit as an individual owner; as the owner of, or as stockholder of, a corporation; or as a member of a firm or partnership primarily engaged in citrus growing. Such members may not receive any compensation from any licensed citrus fruit dealer or handler, as defined in s. 601.03, other than gift fruit shippers, but any of the grower members may not be disqualified as a member if, individually, or as the owner of, a member of, an officer of, or a stockholder of a corporation, firm, or partnership primarily engaged in citrus growing which processes, packs, and markets its own fruit and whose business is primarily not purchasing and handling fruit grown by others.
2.
Three members of the commission shall be classified as processor members and shall be engaged as owners, or as paid officers or employees, of a corporation, firm, partnership, or other business unit engaged in canning, concentrating, or otherwise processing citrus fruit for market other than for shipment in fresh fruit form.
3.
One member shall be classified as a packer member and shall be engaged as an owner, or as a paid officer or employee, of a corporation, firm, partnership, or other business unit that operates as a packinghouse as defined in s. 601.03. The member shall reside in the Indian River production area of this state as defined in s. 601.091(2).
4.
For purposes of this section, a member’s residence is his or her actual physical and permanent residence.
(2)(a)
One grower member shall be appointed from each of the citrus districts designated in s. 601.09. Each member must reside or grow citrus in the district from which she or he was appointed.
(b)
One grower member shall be a grower with a citrus producing area of more than 5,001 acres. The grower must reside and grow citrus in this state.
(c)1.
Members shall be appointed to terms of 3 years each, except that, to establish staggered terms of members from each citrus district, the terms of members appointed before July 1, 2022, shall be as follows:
a.
The terms of two grower members and one packer member shall expire June 30, 2022, and their successors shall be appointed to terms beginning July 1, 2022, and expiring May 31, 2025.
b.
The terms of two grower members and one processor member shall expire June 30, 2023, and their successors shall be appointed to terms beginning July 1, 2023, and expiring May 31, 2026.
c.
The terms of two grower members and one processor member shall expire June 30, 2024, and their successors shall be appointed to terms beginning July 1, 2024, and ending May 31, 2027.
2.
One grower member and one processor member shall be appointed on or after July 1, 2022, with terms ending May 31, 2025.
3.
Subsequent appointments shall be made in accordance with this section.
Appointments shall be made by February 1 preceding the commencement of the term and are subject to confirmation by the Senate in the following legislative session. Each member is eligible for reappointment and shall serve until her or his successor is appointed and qualified. The regular terms begin on June 1 and expire on May 31 of the third year after such appointment.
(d)
When appointments are made, the Governor shall publicly announce the actual classification and district that each appointee represents. A majority of the currently appointed members of the commission constitutes a quorum for the transaction of all business and the carrying out of the duties of the commission. Before entering upon the discharge of their duties as members of the commission, each member shall take and subscribe to the oath of office prescribed in s. 5, Art. II of the State Constitution. The qualifications and classification required of each member by this section continue to be required throughout the respective term of office, and if a member, after appointment, fails to meet the qualifications or classification that she or he possessed at the time of appointment, the member must resign or be removed and be replaced with a member possessing the proper qualifications and classification.
(e)
When making an appointment to the commission, the Governor shall announce the district, classification, and term of the person appointed.
(3)(a)
The commission shall elect a chair and secretary and may elect a vice chair and such other officers as the commission deems advisable.
(b)
The chair, subject to commission concurrence, may appoint such advisory committees or councils composed of industry representatives as the chair deems appropriate, setting forth the committee or council concerns that are consistent with the statutory powers and duties of the commission and the department.
F.S. 601.05 Department of Citrus a body corporate.
The department shall be a body corporate, shall have power to contract and be contracted with, and shall have and possess all the powers of a body corporate for all purposes necessary for fully carrying out the provisions and requirements of this chapter. The department shall adopt a corporate seal with which it shall authenticate its proceedings.
F.S. 601.06 Compensation and expenses of commission members.
Each member of the commission shall receive the sum of $25 per day for each day or fraction thereof spent while en route to or from, or in actual attendance at, regular or special meetings of the commission or meetings of committees of the commission, or in transacting other business authorized by the department in addition to per diem and reimbursement of expenses as authorized by law.
F.S. 601.07 Location of executive offices.
The department’s executive offices shall be established and maintained at Bartow.
F.S. 601.08 Authenticated copies of commission records as evidence.
Copies of the proceedings, records, and acts of the commission and certificates purporting to relate the facts concerning such proceedings, records, and acts signed by the chair of the commission and authenticated by the department’s seal shall be prima facie evidence thereof in all the courts of the state.
F.S. 601.09 Citrus districts.
(1)
For purposes of this chapter, the state is divided into six districts composed of:
(a)
Citrus District One: Collier, Hendry, and Lee Counties.
(b)
Citrus District Two: Charlotte and DeSoto Counties.
(c)
Citrus District Three: Glades, Highlands, and Okeechobee Counties.
(d)
Citrus District Four: Hardee, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pinellas, and Sarasota Counties.
(e)
Citrus District Five: Citrus, Hernando, Levy, Osceola, Pasco, Polk, and Sumter Counties.
(f)
Citrus District Six: Alachua, Brevard, Broward, Flagler, Indian River, Lake, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Orange, Palm Beach, Putnam, St. Johns, Seminole, St. Lucie, and Volusia Counties.
(2)
The Legislature intends that the citrus districts be reviewed and, if necessary to maintain substantially equal volumes of citrus production within each district, redistricted every 5 years. The commission may, once every 5 years, review the citrus districts based on the total boxes produced within each district during the preceding 5 years and, based on the commission’s findings, submit recommendations to the Legislature for redistricting in accordance with this subsection.
F.S. 601.10 Powers of the Department of Citrus.
The department shall have and shall exercise such general and specific powers as are delegated to it by this chapter and other statutes of the state, which powers shall include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1)
To adopt and periodically alter, rescind, modify, or amend all proper and necessary rules and orders for the exercise of its powers and the performance of its duties under this chapter and other statutes of the state, which rules and orders shall have the force and effect of law when not inconsistent therewith.
(2)
To act as the general supervisory authority over the administration and enforcement of this chapter and to exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as may be imposed upon it by other laws of the state.
(3)
To pay, or participate in the payment of, premiums for health, accident, and life insurance for its full-time employees, pursuant to such rules as the department may adopt, in addition to the regular salaries of such full-time employees.
(a)
The payment of such or similar benefits to its employees in foreign countries, including, but not limited to, social security, retirement, and other similar fringe benefit costs, may be in accordance with laws in effect in the country of employment, except that no benefits will be payable to employees not authorized for other state employees, as provided in the Career Service System.
(b)
The department may loan department employees to or share department employees with other state and federal agencies, state universities, or the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for marketing and promotion orders authorized under the authority of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services or its direct-support organizations or for orders adopted under the authority of the United States Secretary of Agriculture. The department may enter into agreements with such entity or entities under such terms and conditions as will benefit the State of Florida, if the agency or entity with which the employee is loaned or shared reimburses the State of Florida for all pay and benefits of the employee, not including a service fee for administration. If the entity directly pays the loaned or shared employee his or her salary and benefits, as applicable, an agreement with the department is not necessary and the employee may work part time with the department under terms and conditions mutually agreed to by the department and the employee. All arrangements made pursuant to this paragraph are subject to prior approval by the department. Except as otherwise provided, loans and agreements must comply with s. 112.24.
(4)
To purchase or authorize the purchase of all office equipment and supplies and to incur all necessary expenses in connection with and required for the proper administration of this chapter and other applicable laws.
(5)
To investigate violations of this chapter and other laws conferring powers and duties upon the department and to report its findings or recommendations in connection therewith to the Department of Agriculture.
(6)
To incur such reasonable obligations and expenses as may be necessary and proper for the discharge of its powers and duties under this or other laws and to have such obligations and expenses paid out of the funds authorized by law to be collected and expended. The department’s executive director, or such other person specifically designated by the commission to act in the event the executive director is either unable or not available to act, is authorized to execute, on behalf of the department, contracts and agreements previously approved by the commission during a regular or special meeting, and the secretary or assistant secretary of the commission is authorized to attest to the signature of the executive director or other designated person.
(7)
To adopt, amend or repeal, and enforce rules that establish minimum maturity and quality standards for citrus fruits not inconsistent with existing laws or that regulate and control methods and practices followed or used in harvesting, grading, packing, extracting, canning, concentrating, sectionizing, or otherwise processing citrus fruits or citrus juices or the products thereof for human consumption, including the addition or prohibition of any and all additives, and including application to or use of coloring matter thereon and coloring of fruit by placing in a degreening room with or without use of heat or any form of gas in such process, to the end that such methods and practices as affect the eating and keeping qualities and depreciate the value of citrus fruits or the juices or other food products thereof in any form may be minimized to the greatest extent possible, if not altogether eliminated.
(8)(a)
To prepare and disseminate information of importance to citrus growers, handlers, shippers, processors, and industry-related and interested persons and organizations relating to department activities and the production, handling, shipping, processing, and marketing of citrus fruit and processed citrus products. For referendum and other notice and informational purposes, the department may prepare and maintain, from the best available sources, a citrus grower mailing list. Such list shall be a public record available as other public records but is not subject to the purging provisions of s. 283.55.
(b)
Any nonpublished reports or data related to studies or research conducted, caused to be conducted, or funded by the department under s. 601.13 is confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution.
(9)
When, in the opinion of the department, revenues collected pursuant to assessments levied under this chapter, whether allocated for research, advertising or promotion, reserve funds, advertising incentive plans, or other purposes, are not immediately needed for the purpose for which such funds are provided, the Chief Financial Officer is authorized and shall, upon the request and approval of the department, or its executive director if she or he has been given such authority, invest and reinvest the funds designated and for the period of time specified in such request. In the investment of such funds, the Chief Financial Officer has the powers and is subject to the limitations provided for in s. 17.61.
(10)
Subject to the concurrence of the Chief Financial Officer, whenever the department contracts with a foreign entity for performance of services or the purchase of materials and such contract requires payment in equivalent foreign currency, the department may, for payment of such contract obligation, deposit sufficient state funds in a foreign bank, or purchase foreign currency at the current market rate, up to an amount not in excess of the contract obligation. All payments from these funds must have prior audit approval from the office of the Chief Financial Officer.
(11)
To conduct an annual merchandising and management meeting in this state for department field personnel and to make direct payment, by means of vendor contracts approved by the commission, for all necessary lodging, meals, facilities, and training expenses for department employees attending such annual meeting, in lieu of payment of individual employee per diem allowances as established by s. 112.061.
(12)
Notwithstanding part I of chapter 287, to adopt rules for the purpose of entering into contracts that are primarily for promotional and advertising services and promotional events, which may include commodities involving a service. Such rules shall include the authority to negotiate costs with the offerors of such services and commodities who have been determined to be qualified on the basis of technical merit, creative ability, and professional competency. Contracts pursuant to this subsection may provide for advance payments when the department determines that such provision is essential to acquiring the service.
(13)
To investigate or address the transportation problems affecting the citrus industry.
(14)
To investigate or research the mechanical harvesting of citrus fruit grown in the state.
(15)
To provide by rule a list of forms used in conducting its business. The adoption of such rule constitutes sufficient notice to the public of the existence of the forms and negates the need to place specific citation to such list throughout the related chapters of the Florida Administrative Code.
F.S. 601.11 Department of Citrus; power to establish standards; rulemaking authority.
(1)
The department shall have the power to:
(a)
Establish state grades and minimum maturity and quality standards not inconsistent with existing laws for citrus fruits and food products thereof containing 20 percent or more citrus or citrus juice, whether canned, concentrated, or otherwise processed, including standards for frozen concentrate for manufacturing purposes, and for containers therefor. These standards must be designed to increase the acceptance and consumption by the consuming public of such regulated citrus fruits and food products thereof and may include, but are not limited to, standards for:
1.
Color break, predominant color, total soluble solids, juice content, and ratio of soluble solids of the juice to anhydrous citric acid of oranges, grapefruit, and tangerines.
2.
Total soluble solids, juice content, and ratio of soluble solids of the juice to anhydrous citric acid of citrus fruit grown in the state for export to foreign countries other than Canada and Mexico.
3.
Canned orange juice or frozen concentrated orange juice that is sold, offered for sale, shipped, or offered for shipment, including, but not limited to, standards for total soluble solids, ratio of soluble solids of juice to anhydrous citric acid, amount of anhydrous citric acid, amount of recoverable oil, color, taste, flavor, and absence of additives or defects, and labeling requirements for substandard juice. These standards may establish separate density, compositional, labeling, and inspection requirements for high-density frozen concentrated orange juice that is sold, offered for sale, shipped, or offered for shipment in retail, institutional, or bulk size containers.
4.
The processing, shipping, and sale of frozen concentrated orange juice and concentrated orange juice for manufacturing to which nutritive sweetening ingredients are added, including, but not limited to, total soluble solids of orange juice exclusive of the added nutritive sweetening ingredients; labeling requirements; and requirements for the inspection and reinspection of such concentrated orange juice before and after nutritive sweetening ingredients are added.
5.
Grapefruit juice products, including, but not limited to, standards for the ratio of soluble solids of juice to anhydrous citric acid and any other standards designed to increase the acceptance and consumption by the consuming public of such regulated grapefruit juice products.
6.
Canned blends of orange juice and grapefruit juice that are sold, offered for sale, shipped, or offered for shipment, including, but not limited to, standards for total soluble solids, ratio of soluble solids of juice to anhydrous citric acid, amount of anhydrous citric acid, amount of recoverable oil, color, taste, flavor, absence of defects, and labeling requirements for substandard juice blends.
(b)
Issue permits for the export to foreign countries other than Canada and Mexico of citrus fruit grown in the state that complies with the standards established under subparagraph (a)2.
(c)
Establish standards limiting any increase of spacing between stacked field boxes caused by the placement of cleats or other devices on the field boxes.
(2)
The commission shall:
(a)
Issue and renew permits for processors of frozen concentrated orange juice and concentrated orange juice for manufacturing to which nutritive sweetening ingredients are added and, in addition to disciplinary action that may be taken by the Department of Agriculture against a citrus fruit dealer for violations of this chapter, suspend or revoke the permit of any processor that does not comply with the standards established under subparagraph (1)(a)4.
(b)
Determine whether freezing temperatures have caused damage or freeze-related injury as described in s. 601.89 to citrus fruit and, if the commission determines that such damage has been caused, issue emergency quality assurance orders that:
1.
Temporarily prohibit the preparation for market, sale, offer for sale, or shipment of any citrus fruit showing freeze damage or freeze-related injury.
2.
Establish the degree of freeze damage or freeze-related injury that is temporarily permitted in citrus fruit used in frozen concentrated products, including concentrate for manufacturing purposes.
(3)
The department shall adopt rules governing:
(a)
The marking, branding, labeling, tagging, or stamping of citrus fruit, or products thereof, whether canned, concentrated, or otherwise processed, and upon containers therefor for the purpose of showing the name and address of the person marketing such citrus fruit or products thereof, whether canned, concentrated, or otherwise processed.
(b)
The grade, quality, variety, type, or size of citrus fruit; the grade, quality, variety, type, and amount of the products thereof, whether canned, concentrated, or otherwise processed; and the quality, type, size, dimensions, and shape of containers therefor.
(c)
The regulation or prohibition of the use of containers that previously have been used for the sale, transportation, or shipment of citrus fruit or the products thereof, whether canned, concentrated, or otherwise processed, or any other commodity. However, the department may not prohibit the use of secondhand containers for the sale or delivery of citrus fruit for retail consumption within the state.
(4)
The department may not adopt any standard, rule, or order under this section that is inconsistent with any requirement of federal law or regulations that applies to citrus fruit, or the products thereof, whether canned, concentrated, or otherwise processed, or to containers therefor, that are being shipped from this state in interstate commerce.
(5)(a)
All citrus fruit and the products thereof, whether canned, concentrated, or otherwise processed, sold, offered for sale, or offered for shipment within or without the state shall be graded and marked as required by this section.
(b)
The rules and orders adopted under this section, to the extent that they are not inconsistent with state or federal law, shall have the force and effect of law.
F.S. 601.13 Citrus research; administration by Department of Citrus; appropriation.
(1)
The department shall administer this section and prescribe suitable and reasonable rules to properly implement this section.
(2)
The department shall:
(a)1.
Conduct or cause to be conducted a thorough and comprehensive study of citrus fruit and the juices thereof:
a.
With respect to the quality and maturity of such fruit and the juices thereof, including proper effort to assemble data and arrive at a proper standard of quality, grade, and maturity with reference to its texture, stability, and general marketability and so far as possible reduce such findings to specific and readily understood chemical, mathematical, or descriptive terms; and
b.
With respect to the nutritional and other value or values of such fruit and the juices thereof.
2.
Provide suitable facilities and equipment of every kind whatsoever proper and necessary in connection with all such work.
(b)
Conduct or cause to be conducted such study and research as is necessary to provide all the information and data required to be disseminated pursuant to this section.
(c)
Provide suitable and sufficient laboratory facilities and equipment, making use of the laboratory facilities and equipment of the University of Florida, insofar as it is practicable for the purpose of conducting thorough and comprehensive study and research to determine all possible new and further uses for citrus fruit and citrus fruit juices and the products and byproducts into which the same can be converted or manufactured, as well as to determine and develop new and profitable methods and instruments of distribution thereof.
(d)
Carry on, or cause to be carried on, suitable experiments in an effort to prove the commercial value of each, and determine and develop new and further use for citrus fruit and citrus fruit juices or the products and byproducts into which the same can be converted or manufactured.
(e)
Carry on or cause to be carried on suitable experiments in an effort to prove the commercial value of any and all new profitable methods and instruments of distribution of citrus fruit and citrus fruit juices and the products and byproducts into which the same can be converted or manufactured.
(f)
Carry on or cause to be carried on an economic and marketing research program relating to citrus fruits and products or byproducts thereof.
(g)
Enter into any mutually satisfactory contracts or agreements with any person, firm, institution, corporation, or business unit, as well as any state or federal agency, that the department deems wise, necessary, and expedient in the administration of this chapter.
(h)
Incur and pay such expenses and obligations as are necessary in connection with and required for the proper administration of this chapter.
(i)
Conduct or cause to be conducted any research related to disease and crop efficiency that would advance the purposes of the state’s citrus industry and commercialization related to advancing such research.
(3)
An entity that solicits research proposals and awards funding for those proposals expending funds received from the State Treasury on citrus production research conducted pursuant to chapter 573, as recommended by the Citrus Research and Development Foundation, Inc., or conducted through contract with the department shall deliver a report that includes all of the following information to the commission biannually and at the request of the commission:
(a)
Project plans selected for funding.
(b)
The financial status of the projects.
(c)
Current findings of the funded research.
(d)
Availability of citrus products or application of growers’ practices found through funded research.
(e)
The status of the commercialization process of such products or practices.
(4)
Before being released for sale to the general public, any new variety of citrus fruit which is developed as a result of any research or study accomplished using any percentage of funds from the State Treasury as well as any technology that enhances the marketability of new or current citrus fruit varieties must be made available as a first option for licensing and commercialization for a period of 90 days, under commercially reasonable terms, exclusively to the department or its designee. If the department or its designee exercises such exclusive license, the Florida Citrus Commission may retain the exclusivity for up to 8 years after the date of execution.
(5)
There is appropriated and made available for defraying the expenses of the administration of this section from the moneys derived from advertising assessments levied on citrus fruit such amounts as the department may deem necessary within the percentage limitations imposed by s. 601.15.
F.S. 601.15 Advertising campaign; methods of conducting; assessments; emergency reserve fund; citrus research.
(1)
The department shall administer this section, prescribe suitable and reasonable rules for the enforcement of this section, and administer the assessments levied and imposed under this section. All funds collected under this section and the interest accrued on such funds are consideration for a social contract between the state and the citrus growers of the state whereby the state must hold such funds in trust and inviolate and use them only for the purposes prescribed in this chapter. The department may cause its duly authorized agent or representative to enter upon the premises of any handler of citrus fruits and to examine or cause to be examined any books, papers, records, or memoranda bearing on the amount of assessments payable and to secure other information directly or indirectly concerned in the enforcement of this section. Any person who is required to pay the assessments levied and imposed and who by any practice or evasion makes it difficult to enforce this section by inspection, or any person who, after demand by the department or any agent or representative designated by it for that purpose, refuses to allow full inspection of the premises or any part thereof or any books, records, documents, or other instruments in any manner relating to the liability of the person or entity liable for the assessment imposed or hinders, delays, or prevents such inspection, commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(2)
The department shall plan and conduct campaigns for commodity advertising, publicity, and sales promotion, and may conduct campaigns to encourage noncommodity advertising, to increase the consumption of citrus fruits and may contract for any such advertising, publicity, and sales promotion service. To accomplish such purpose, the department shall:
(a)
Disseminate information relating to:
1.
Citrus fruits and the importance thereof in preserving the public health, the economy thereof in the diet of the people, and the importance thereof in the nutrition of children.
2.
The manner, method, and means used and employed in the production and marketing of citrus fruits and information relating to laws of the state regulating and safeguarding such production and marketing.
3.
The added cost to the producer and dealer in producing and handling citrus fruits to meet the high standards imposed by the state that ensure a pure and wholesome product.
4.
The effect upon the public health that would result from a breakdown of the state’s citrus industry or any part thereof.
5.
The reasons that producers and dealers should receive a reasonable return on their labor and investment.
6.
The problem of furnishing the consumer at all times with an abundant supply of fine quality citrus fruits at reasonable prices.
7.
Factors of instability peculiar to the citrus fruit industry, such as unbalanced production, the effect of the weather, the influence of consumer purchasing power, and price relative to the cost of other items of food in the normal diet of people, all to the end that an intelligent and increasing consumer demand may be created.
8.
The possibilities with particular reference to increased consumption of citrus fruits.
9.
Such additional information that tends to promote increased consumption of citrus fruits and that fosters a better understanding and more efficient cooperation among producers, dealers, and the consuming public.
(b)
Decide upon some distinctive and suggestive trade name and promote its use in all ways to advertise Florida citrus fruit.
(3)(a)
There is levied and imposed upon each standard-packed box of citrus fruit grown and placed into the primary channel of trade in this state an assessment at maximum annual rates for each citrus season as provided in this paragraph. The rates may be set at any lower rate in any year pursuant to paragraph (e).
1.
The maximum assessment for grapefruit that enters the primary channel of trade for use in fresh form may not exceed 36 cents per box.
2.
The maximum assessment for grapefruit that enters the primary channel of trade for use in processed form may not exceed 36 cents per box.
3.
The maximum assessment for oranges that enter the primary channel of trade for use in fresh form may not exceed 7 cents per box.
4.
The maximum assessment for oranges that enter the primary channel of trade for use in processed form may not exceed 25 cents per box.
5.
The actual assessment levied each year upon tangerines and citrus hybrids regulated by the department that enter the primary channel of trade for use in processed form may not exceed 25 cents per box.
6.
The maximum assessment for tangerines and citrus hybrids regulated by the department that enter the primary channel of trade for use in fresh form may not exceed 16 cents per box.
(b)
Whenever citrus fruit is purchased, acquired, or handled on a weight basis, the following weights are deemed the equivalent of one standard-packed box for assessment purposes under this section:
1.
Grapefruit, 85 pounds.
2.
Oranges, 90 pounds.
3.
Tangerines, 95 pounds.
4.
Citrus hybrids, 90 pounds.
(c)
The assessments imposed by this section do not apply to citrus fruit used for noncommercial domestic consumption on the premises where produced.
(d)
For purposes of this subsection, a citrus season begins on August 1 of a year and ends on July 31 of the following year.
(e)
The commission, upon an affirmative vote of a majority of its members and by an order entered by it before November 1 of any year, may set the assessments up to the maximum rates specified in this subsection. The assessment shall apply only to the citrus season that began on August 1 of the same calendar year. Such assessment may be applied by variety and on the basis of whether the fruit enters the primary channel of trade for use in fresh or processed form. If the commission cannot agree on a box assessment, the assessment for the previous year shall remain in effect until the commission approves a new assessment.
(4)
Every handler shall keep a complete and accurate record of all citrus fruit handled by her or him. Such record shall be in such form and contain such other information as the department shall by rule prescribe. Such records shall be preserved by such handlers for a period of 1 year and shall be offered for inspection at any time upon oral or written demand by the department or its duly authorized agents or representatives.
(5)
Every handler shall, at such times and in such manner as the department may by rule require, file with the department a return certified as true and correct, on forms furnished by the department, stating, in addition to other information, the number of standard-packed boxes of each kind of citrus fruit handled by such handler in the primary channel of trade during the period of time covered by the return. Full payment of all assessments due for the period reported shall accompany each handler’s return.
(6)(a)
All assessments levied and imposed pursuant to this section are due and payable and shall be paid, or the amount thereof guaranteed as provided in this subsection, at the time the citrus fruit is first handled in the primary channels of trade. All such assessments shall be paid, or the payment thereof shall be guaranteed, to the department by the person first handling the fruit in the primary channel of trade, except that payment of assessments on fruit delivered or sold for processing in this state shall be paid, or payment thereof shall be guaranteed in accordance with department rules, by the person processing such fruit.
(b)
Periodic payment of assessments upon citrus fruit by the person liable for such payment is permitted only in accordance with department rules, and the payment thereof shall be guaranteed by the posting of a good and sufficient letter of credit from an issuing financial institution located in the United States, a cash bond, an appropriate certificate of deposit, or an approved surety bond in an amount and manner as prescribed by department rule. Evidence of such guarantee of payment of assessments must be made on the grade certificate in such manner and form as may be prescribed by department rule.
(c)
All assessments collected by the department shall be delivered to the State Treasury for payment into the proper advertising fund.
(7)
All assessments levied and collected under this chapter shall be paid into the State Treasury on or before the 15th day of each month. Such moneys shall be accounted for in a special fund to be designated as the Florida Citrus Advertising Trust Fund, and all moneys in such fund are appropriated to the department for the following purposes:
(a)
Four percent of all income of a revenue nature deposited in this fund, including transfers from any subsidiary accounts thereof and any interest income, shall be deposited in the General Revenue Fund pursuant to chapter 215.
(b)
Moneys in the Florida Citrus Advertising Trust Fund shall be expended for the activities authorized by s. 601.13 and for the cost of those general overhead, research and development, maintenance, salaries, professional fees, enforcement costs, and other such expenses that are not related to advertising, merchandising, public relations, trade luncheons, publicity, and other associated activities. The cost of general overhead, maintenance, salaries, professional fees, enforcement costs, and other such expenses that are related to advertising, merchandising, public relations, trade luncheons, publicity, and associated activities shall be paid from the balance of the Florida Citrus Advertising Trust Fund.
(c)
Moneys in the Florida Citrus Advertising Trust Fund shall also be used by the department for defraying those expenses not included in paragraph (b). After payment of such expenses, the money levied and collected under subsection (3) shall be used exclusively for commodity and noncommodity advertising, merchandising, publicity, or sales promotion of citrus products in both fresh form and processed form, including citrus cattle feed and all other products of citrus fruits, produced in the state, in such equitable manner and proration as the department may determine, but funds expended for commodity advertising thereunder shall be expended through an established advertising agency. A proration of moneys between commodity programs and noncommodity programs and among types of citrus products shall be made on or before November 1 of each shipping season and may not thereafter be modified for that shipping season unless the department finds such action necessary to preserve the economic welfare of the citrus industry.
(d)
The pro rata portion of moneys allocated to each type of citrus product in noncommodity programs shall be used by the department to encourage substantial increases in the effectiveness, frequency, and volume of noncommodity advertising, merchandising, publicity, and sales promotion of such citrus products through rebates and incentive payments to handlers and trade customers for these activities. The department shall adopt rules providing for the use of such moneys. The rules shall establish alternate incentive programs, including at least one incentive program for product sold under advertised brands, one incentive program for product sold under private label brands, and one incentive program for product sold in bulk. For each incentive program, the rules must establish eligibility and performance requirements and must provide appropriate limitations on amounts payable to a handler or trade customer for a particular season. Such limitations may relate to the amount of citrus assessments levied and collected on the citrus product handled by such handler or trade customer during a 12-month representative period.
(8)(a)
On certification by any employee of the department that her or his actual and necessary expenses on any particular day while traveling outside the state exceeded the per diem provided by law, such employee shall show such excess on her or his regular expense voucher and support the same by the proof required pursuant to rules adopted by the department.
(b)
The department is authorized to spend such amount as it deems advisable for guests involved in promotional activities in the sale of Florida citrus fruits and products.
(c)
All obligations, expenses, and costs incurred under this section shall be paid out of the Citrus Advertising Fund upon warrant of the Chief Financial Officer when vouchers thereof, approved by the department, are exhibited.
(9)(a)
Any handler who fails to file a return or to pay any assessment within the time required shall thereby forfeit to the department a penalty of 5 percent of the amount of assessment determined to be due, but the department, if satisfied that the delay was excusable, may remit all or any part of such penalty. Such penalty shall be paid to the department and disposed of as provided with respect to moneys derived from the assessments levied and imposed by subsection (3).
(b)
The department may collect any assessments levied and assessed by this chapter in any or all of the following methods:
1.
By the voluntary payment by the person liable therefor.
2.
By a suit at law.
3.
By a suit in equity to enjoin and restrain any handler, citrus fruit dealer, or other person owing such assessments from operating her or his business or engaging in business as a citrus fruit dealer until the delinquent assessments are paid. Such action may include an accounting to determine the amount of assessments plus delinquencies due. In any such proceeding, it is not necessary to allege or prove that an adequate remedy at law does not exist.
(10)
The powers and duties of the department include the following:
(a)
To adopt and periodically alter, rescind, modify, and amend all proper and necessary rules and orders for the exercise of its powers and the performance of its duties under this chapter.
(b)
To employ and at its pleasure discharge an advertising manager, agents, advertising agencies, and such clerical and other help as it deems necessary and to outline their powers and duties and fix their compensation.
(c)
To make in the name of the department such advertising contracts and other agreements as may be necessary.
(d)
To keep books, records, and accounts of all of its activities, which books, records, and accounts shall be open to inspection, audit, and examination by the Auditor General and the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability.
(e)
To purchase or authorize the purchase of all office equipment and supplies and to incur all other reasonable and necessary expenses and obligations in connection with and required for the proper administration of this chapter.
(f)
To conduct, and pay out of the Florida Citrus Advertising Trust Fund, premium and prize promotions designed to increase the use of citrus in any form.
(g)
To advertise citrus cattle feed and promote its use.
(h)
To conduct marketing activities in foreign countries and other programs designed to develop and protect domestic and international markets.
F.S. 601.24 Department of Citrus to prescribe methods of testing and grading.
The department shall adopt rules providing the manner and method to be used in drawing samples and the quantity to be used in testing and grading of citrus fruit and the canned and concentrated products thereof and shall provide specifications and methods for use of juice extractors to be used in extracting juice for such tests and grading purposes.
F.S. 601.25 Determination of soluble solids and acid.
The department shall adopt rules determining the method by which juice is tested for percentage of total soluble solids, the method by which juice is tested for acidity, and the method for testing fruit for juice content. Until the department determines such method by rule, the Brix hydrometer shall be used and the reading of the hydrometer corrected for temperature shall be considered as the percent of the total soluble solids, and anhydrous citric acid shall be determined by titration of the juice using standard alkali and phenolphthalein as indicator, the total acidity being calculated as anhydrous citric acid.
F.S. 601.27 Department of Agriculture; citrus inspectors.
The inspection in the state of all citrus fruit and the canned and concentrated products thereof, and the certifying as to grades and qualifications thereof, and the enforcement of all provisions of this chapter and rules and orders made pursuant to and under authority of this chapter shall be under the direction, supervision, and control of the Department of Agriculture. The sampling, testing, and inspection of all processed citrus products shall be done by authorized agents or inspectors of the Department of Agriculture or pursuant to cooperative agreement between the Department of Agriculture and any agency of the Federal Government.
F.S. 601.28 Inspection fees.
(1)
There is hereby levied upon citrus fruit and processed citrus products the following inspection fees:
(a)
Upon each standard-packed box or equivalent, including hourly rate equivalent, thereof of citrus fruit inspected and certified for shipment in fresh form other than fruit on which a fee is imposed by paragraph (b), such fee, to be fixed annually promptly following the release by the United States Department of Agriculture of the October citrus crop estimate, as is determined by the Department of Agriculture to be necessary to pay:
1.
The costs expected to be incurred during the then-current shipping season by the Bureau of Citrus Inspection in performing its duties with respect to such citrus fruit and by the Bureau of Citrus Technical Control in performing its duties with respect to such citrus fruit;
2.
A pro rata portion of the costs expected to be incurred during the then-current shipping season by the Bureau of Citrus License and Bond;
3.
A pro rata portion of the costs expected to be incurred during the then-current shipping season, by the Department of Agriculture through its cooperative agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture, which are directly attributable to the estimation of the size of the citrus crop in Florida; and
4.
The amount, if any, by which the costs actually incurred with respect to the foregoing during the preceding shipping season may have exceeded the income received during that season, or less the amounts, if any, by which the income received during the preceding shipping season may have exceeded the costs actually incurred with respect to the foregoing during that season. For the purpose of this subparagraph, income received during the preceding season shall be deemed to include all fees collected under this paragraph, plus a pro rata portion of all fees collected under s. 601.59, plus a pro rata portion of all fines and penalties collected pursuant to this chapter, and plus all interest earned on the investment of the foregoing funds.
(b)
Upon each unit, as defined by the Department of Citrus, of citrus fruit inspected and certified for shipment in fresh form as gift fruit or for sale at roadside retail fruit stands, such fee, to be fixed annually promptly following the release by the United States Department of Agriculture of the October citrus crop estimate, as is determined by the Department of Agriculture to be necessary to pay:
1.
The costs expected to be incurred during the then-current shipping season by the Bureau of Citrus Inspection in performing its duties with respect to such citrus fruit and by the Bureau of Citrus Technical Control in performing its duties with respect to such citrus fruit;
2.
A pro rata portion of the costs expected to be incurred during the then-current shipping season by the Bureau of Citrus License and Bond;
3.
A pro rata portion of the costs expected to be incurred during the then-current shipping season by the Department of Agriculture through its cooperative agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture which are directly attributable to the estimation of the size of the citrus crop in Florida; and
4.
The amount, if any, by which the costs actually incurred with respect to the foregoing during the preceding shipping season may have exceeded the income received during that season, or less the amounts, if any, by which the income received during the preceding shipping season may have exceeded the costs actually incurred with respect to the foregoing during that season. For the purpose of this subparagraph, income received during the preceding shipping season shall be deemed to include all fees collected under this paragraph, plus a pro rata portion of all fees collected under s. 601.59, plus a pro rata portion of all fines and penalties collected pursuant to this chapter, and all interest earned on the investment of the foregoing funds.
(c)
Upon each standard-packed box or equivalent thereof of citrus fruit inspected and certified for processing, such fee, to be fixed annually promptly following the release by the United States Department of Agriculture of the October citrus crop estimate, as is determined by the Department of Agriculture to be necessary to pay:
1.
The costs expected to be incurred during the then-current shipping season by the Bureau of Citrus Inspection in performing its duties with respect to such citrus fruit and by the Bureau of Citrus Technical Control in performing its duties with respect to such citrus fruit;
2.
A pro rata portion of the costs expected to be incurred during the then-current shipping season by the Bureau of Citrus License and Bond;
3.
A pro rata portion of the costs expected to be incurred during the then-current shipping season by the Department of Agriculture through its cooperative agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture directly attributable to the estimation of the size of the citrus crop in Florida; and
4.
The amount, if any, by which the costs actually incurred with respect to the foregoing during the preceding shipping season may have exceeded the income received during that season, or less the amount, if any, by which the income received during the preceding shipping season may have exceeded the costs actually incurred with respect to the foregoing during that season. For the purpose of this subparagraph, income received during the preceding shipping season shall be deemed to include all fees collected under this paragraph, a pro rata portion of all fees collected under s. 601.59, a pro rata portion of all fines and penalties collected pursuant to this chapter, and all interest earned on the investments of the foregoing funds.
(d)
Upon each standard case of 24 No. 2 cans, or the equivalent thereof, of processed citrus products inspected and certified within this state, such fee, to be fixed annually promptly following the release by the United States Department of Agriculture of the October citrus crop estimate, as is determined by the Department of Agriculture to be necessary to pay:
1.
The costs expected to be incurred during the then-current shipping season by the Bureau of Citrus Inspection, through the cooperative agreement between the Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Agriculture, in performing its duties with respect to processed citrus products; and
2.
The amount, if any, by which the costs actually incurred with respect to the foregoing during the preceding shipping season may have exceeded the fees collected under this paragraph during that season, or less the amount, if any, by which the fees collected under this paragraph during the preceding shipping season may have exceeded the costs actually incurred with respect to the foregoing during that season.
(2)(a)
Costs and income required to be prorated under the terms of paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of subsection (1) shall be prorated on the basis of the number of boxes on which fees were assessed under the particular paragraph as compared to the total number of boxes of citrus fruit delivered into the primary channel of trade during the particular shipping season. Expenditures of funds for estimation of the size of the citrus crop in Florida by the Department of Agriculture through its cooperative agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture shall be for service and research work related to estimating and forecasting citrus production in Florida, including, but not limited to, tree counts, using aerial photography and ground surveys, fruit counts, fruit measurement, maturity and yield surveys, damage surveys, opinion surveys, season average price determinations, and related activities.
(b)
If, after the release of the October citrus crop estimate, a subsequent citrus crop estimate is so substantially different that any of the foregoing fees fixed following the October estimate are determined by the Department of Agriculture to be insufficient to pay the estimated costs expected to be incurred as set forth in the preceding paragraphs, then the Department of Agriculture shall determine the fee necessary to pay such estimated costs based upon such revised citrus crop estimate and shall amend such fee accordingly.
(c)
In fixing the foregoing fees, the Department of Agriculture shall provide for adequate reserves to pay costs expected to be incurred during those periods when costs are expected to exceed income.
(d)
The computations of the fees provided for herein and information as to the data upon which they are based shall be furnished by the Department of Agriculture upon request to any person liable for fees hereunder.
(3)(a)
All fees levied by this section shall be applicable retroactively to a date to be fixed by the Department of Agriculture. Such fees shall be paid to the Department of Agriculture or the payment thereof guaranteed by the person who is the owner or operator of the facility at which the citrus fruit or processed citrus products so certified are handled under the provisions of this chapter. Payment of such fees shall be due upon the certification of the citrus fruit or processed citrus products and shall be paid periodically under such rules and regulations as shall be prescribed by the Department of Agriculture. Payment shall be secured by the filing and posting of a bond or cash deposit in the form and amount required by the Department of Agriculture.
(b)
All fees levied and collected under the provisions of this section shall be paid into the State Treasury on or before the 15th day of each month. Such moneys shall be deposited to and made a part of the Citrus Inspection Trust Fund and are hereby appropriated to the Department of Agriculture to be used to pay the costs incurred in its performance of the duties of the Bureau of Citrus Inspection and under the cooperative agreements referred to in subsection (1) with respect to citrus fruit and processed citrus products.
(4)(a)
All persons liable for the fees imposed by this section shall keep a complete and accurate record of the receipt, sale, shipment, and processing of citrus fruit and processed citrus products subject to the fees imposed hereby. Such records shall be preserved by such persons for a period of 1 year following the end of the shipping season to which they pertain and shall be offered for inspection at any time upon oral or written demand by the Department of Agriculture.
(b)
All persons liable for the fees imposed by this section shall, at such times as the Department of Agriculture may by rule or regulation require, file with the Department of Agriculture a return certified as true and correct on forms to be prescribed and furnished by the Department of Agriculture stating the number of applicable units of citrus fruit and processed citrus products which were subject to fees hereunder during the period of time covered by the return.
(5)
The Department of Agriculture may adopt rules providing for the imposition of special fees for inspections conducted during hours not contemplated by regular state work hours. The rules shall prescribe circumstances under which the fees levied pursuant to paragraphs (1)(a) and (b) would not apply and the fees imposed pursuant to such rules would apply. The rules shall require that such fees be levied when specifically actuated by contract between the Department of Agriculture and persons liable for the fees created by this subsection. The rules may not authorize fees that exceed the Department of Agriculture’s actual cost of the inspection to be made, nor may such fees be less than those imposed by paragraphs (1)(a) and (b).
(6)
When any portion of the revenues deposited to the Citrus Inspection Trust Fund is not immediately needed for the purpose for which such funds are appropriated, the Chief Financial Officer shall invest and reinvest such funds, and the earnings thereon shall be deposited to and made a part of the Citrus Inspection Trust Fund.
(7)
The duties of the Department of Agriculture shall include the duty to conduct hearings, through a hearing officer who shall be an attorney authorized to practice law within this state, on violations of this section and rules adopted thereunder. The hearing officer shall be selected by the Commissioner of Agriculture and shall be in addition to her or his regular legal staff authorized by law. The hearing officer shall, in addition to conducting such hearings, be available to the Division of Fruit and Vegetables for other legal services on matters pertaining to violations of this chapter and rules adopted thereunder.
F.S. 601.29 Powers of Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
The powers of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services or its authorized representative include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1)
To enter and inspect any place within the state where citrus fruit is being prepared, colored, packed, loaded, or stored for shipment, either in fresh or processed form, and to stop and inspect any shipment of citrus fruit or processed citrus products.
(2)
To enter and survey, at any reasonable hour of the day, all commercial citrus groves for the purpose of estimating and forecasting citrus production in Florida. The property owner or lessee shall not be liable for injury to any employee or agent during the course of entry.
(3)
To forbid and prohibit the shipment or sale of any citrus fruit or the canned or concentrated products thereof found to be in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or order made or adopted under the authority of this chapter.
(4)
To provide complete and adequate inspection of citrus fruit and canned and concentrated citrus products in order to permit any shipper or canning or concentrating plant to have citrus fruit or canned or concentrated citrus products graded according to the standards fixed by the United States Department of Agriculture and adopted by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services by rule. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is authorized to enter into all necessary contracts and agreements with the United States Department of Agriculture to implement this section.
(5)
To prosecute for violation of any of the citrus laws or for violation of any rule, regulation, or order promulgated by the commission or by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
(6)
To institute such action at law or in equity as may appear necessary to enforce compliance with any provisions of this chapter, or to enforce compliance with any rule, regulation, or order of the Department of Citrus or the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services made pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, and, in addition to any other remedy, to apply to any circuit court of this state for relief by injunction, if necessary, to protect the public interest without being compelled to allege or prove that an adequate remedy at law does not exist.
(7)
To employ and fix the compensation of attorneys as it deems necessary to assist in exercising the powers and discharging the duties conferred and imposed upon the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services by law, and particularly by subsections (5) and (6).
F.S. 601.31 Citrus inspectors; employment.
The Department of Agriculture may annually employ as many citrus fruit inspectors for a period not to exceed 1 year as the Department of Agriculture deems necessary for the effective enforcement of the citrus fruit laws of this state. All persons authorized to inspect and certify the maturity and grade of citrus fruit shall be governed by such laws and by the rules adopted by the Department of Citrus and the Department of Agriculture and shall perform their duties under the direction and supervision of the Department of Agriculture. All such citrus inspectors shall be licensed or certified by the Department of Agriculture.
F.S. 601.32 Compensation of inspectors.
The salaries of the chief citrus inspector, the chief laboratory inspector, the district supervising inspectors, the junior and senior inspectors, and all other necessary inspectors shall be in the amount as determined and fixed by the Department of Agriculture, and in addition thereto, each such inspector shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in s. 112.061, which shall be paid upon approval of accounts therefor by the Department of Agriculture. The Department of Agriculture may employ such additional field and other agents and clerical assistance at such times and for such periods and incur and pay any other expenses, including travel expenses, as provided in s. 112.061, of the Department of Agriculture during the citrus fruit season, as may be necessary for the effective enforcement of the citrus fruit laws of this state and of the rules of the Department of Citrus and ensure the payments of the inspection fees imposed or that may be imposed under the authority of law.
F.S. 601.33 Interference with inspectors.
A person may not obstruct, hinder, resist, interfere with, or attempt to obstruct, hinder, resist, or interfere with any authorized inspector in the discharge of any duty imposed upon or required of her or him by the provisions of law or by any rule adopted by the Department of Citrus or the Department of Agriculture, or change or attempt to change any instrument, substance, article, or fluid used by such inspector or emergency inspector in making tests of citrus fruit or the canned or concentrated products thereof.
F.S. 601.34 Duties of law enforcement officers.
Each state or county law enforcement officer shall make arrests for violations of the citrus fruit laws of this state or of any rule or order of the commission or the Department of Agriculture under authority of law when notified of such violation by the Department of Agriculture or its duly authorized agent or representative.
F.S. 601.35 Disputes as to quality, etc.; procedure.
When any dispute as to quality, grade, or condition of citrus fruit or the canned or concentrated products thereof arises, the shipper or any financially interested person may call in at his, her, or its expense an inspector licensed or certified only by the United States Department of Agriculture to inspect such citrus fruit or its canned or concentrated products. Such inspector shall issue a regular official certificate to the applicant showing the quality, grade, and condition thereof, and in all cases, such certificate shall be prima facie evidence. If such certificate shows that the citrus fruit or the canned or concentrated products thereof conform to the requirements of this chapter and the rules or orders of the Department of Citrus and of the Department of Agriculture, such shipper or such financially interested person may present the original certificate to the person or representative of the person having charge of the vehicle of transportation by which such citrus fruit or the canned or concentrated products thereof are to be transported, which person or representative shall then accept such citrus fruit or the canned or concentrated products thereof for shipment provided that all other provisions of this chapter and of the rules and orders of the Department of Citrus and of the Department of Agriculture have been met and complied with.
F.S. 601.36 Inspection information required when two or more lots of fruit run simultaneously.
In the event that any packinghouse packing citrus fruit or canning plant canning citrus fruit or concentrating plant concentrating citrus fruit shall have present therein or shall be packing, canning, or concentrating two or more lots of fruit simultaneously, the manager or other person in charge of said packinghouse or said canning plant or said concentrating plant shall notify the citrus fruit inspector conducting inspections at said packinghouse or canning plant or concentrating plant of said fact and furnish to said inspector full information as to the source of said several lots of fruit and the number of boxes in each several lots.
F.S. 601.37 Unlawful acts of inspectors.
An authorized inspector may not make or deliver a certificate of inspection and maturity and quality of any citrus fruit or the canned or concentrated products thereof upon which the inspection fees and advertising assessments have not been paid or the payment thereof guaranteed, or make or issue any false certificate as to inspection, maturity, quality, or payment of inspection fees.
F.S. 601.38 Citrus inspectors; authority.
For the purpose of enforcing the citrus fruit laws of this state, as well as rules of the department, citrus fruit inspectors may enter into any packinghouse, canning plant, or concentrating plant at any hour of day or night and have and demand access and admission to any enclosed portion of such packinghouse, canning plant, or concentrating plant. Such citrus fruit inspectors may also inspect all packinghouse or canning plant records pertaining to receipts from groves and to details of receiving, handling, running, processing, packing, or canning citrus fruit.
F.S. 601.39 Special inspectors.
In cases of emergency or necessity, when no citrus fruit inspector is available for inspection of a particular lot of citrus fruit or the canned or concentrated products thereof, the Department of Agriculture may designate some fit and competent individual to inspect, test, and certify as to such lot of fruit or the canned or concentrated products thereof. Certificates made or issued by such designated individual shall be signed by her or him as “Special citrus fruit inspector.” The designated individual shall not be required to give any bond, but shall be subject to the penalties imposed for violation of any of the provisions of the citrus fruit laws.
F.S. 601.40 Registration of citrus packinghouses, processing plants with Department of Agriculture.
The owner, manager, or operator of each packinghouse, canning plant, or concentrating plant at which it is intended to pack, can, concentrate, or prepare citrus fruit for market or transportation during the then-present or the next ensuing citrus fruit shipping season shall register such packinghouse, canning plant, or concentrating plant and its location, shipping point, and post office with the Department of Agriculture at least 10 days before packing, canning, concentrating, or otherwise preparing any citrus fruit or the canned or concentrated products thereof for sale or transportation in or at such packinghouse, canning plant, or concentrating plant, and she or he shall, in addition to such registration, give the Department of Agriculture at least 7 days’ written notice of the date on which packing, canning, concentrating, or other preparation for sale or transportation of citrus fruit of the then-current or the next ensuing season’s crop will begin. The Department of Agriculture shall issue a certificate of registration to each such packinghouse, canning plant, or concentrating plant registering. However, such certificate of registration may not be issued to any packinghouse, canning plant, or concentrating plant unless the operator thereof has applied for and received her or his license as a citrus fruit dealer and furnished a bond as such citrus fruit dealer in accordance with law.
F.S. 601.041 The Friends of Florida Citrus Program; advisory council.
(1)
The Friends of Florida Citrus Program is established within the department to provide support and assistance for existing and future programs within the department.
(a)
Through the program, the department shall:
1.
Conduct programs and activities related to the protection and enhancement of the quality and reputation of Florida citrus fruit and the canned and concentrated products thereof in domestic and foreign markets.
2.
Identify and pursue methods to provide resources and materials for the programs.
3.
Research methods to integrate the resources and materials identified pursuant to subparagraph 2.
(b)
The department may receive donations from private corporations to support the program. The department shall deposit donations to the program into the Florida Citrus Advertising Trust Fund, as established in s. 601.15(7), and such donations shall be exempt from s. 601.15(7)(a).
(2)
The Friends of Florida Citrus Advisory Council, an advisory council as defined in s. 20.03(7), is established adjunct to the department. The advisory council shall advise and provide recommendations to the commission regarding the use of any funds received for the Friends of Florida Citrus Program. The advisory council shall operate in a manner consistent with s. 20.052, and members shall be appointed by the commission. Initially, the commission shall appoint two members to a term of 4 years, one member to a term of 3 years, one member to a term of 2 years, and one member to a term of 1 year. Thereafter, members shall be appointed for 4-year terms. The council shall consist of the following members:
(a)
One member of the commission.
(b)
One member recommended by the Florida Citrus Processors Association.
(c)
One member recommended by the statewide voluntary Florida citrus growers association with the highest membership.
(d)
Two at-large members, at the discretion of the commission.
F.S. 601.41 Operation without registration unlawful.
It is unlawful for any person to operate a citrus fruit packinghouse, canning plant, or concentrating plant, or to pack or otherwise prepare for sale or transportation any citrus fruit at such packinghouse, canning plant, or concentrating plant without having previously registered said packinghouse, canning plant, or concentrating plant and given the notice required in s. 601.40 and having received and still having unrevoked from the Department of Agriculture a certificate; provided, that no certificate of inspection and maturity of any fruit shall be issued by any authorized inspector except to a person who has registered with the Department of Agriculture during the then-current year and has an unrevoked certificate of registration and has given to said Department of Agriculture the notice required.
F.S. 601.42 Revocation of registration.
Whenever the Department of Agriculture shall issue a certificate of registration to any packinghouse, canning plant, or concentrating plant for the purpose of processing citrus fruit or citrus products, as provided by s. 601.40, and said Department of Agriculture shall thereafter revoke or suspend the license of any citrus fruit dealer who may own, operate, or have any proprietary or ownership interest in any such packinghouse, canning plant, or concentrating plant aforesaid, the certificate of registration as provided for in s. 601.40 shall automatically and without further proceedings stand suspended or revoked during the entire period of the suspension or revocation of the citrus fruit dealer’s license.
F.S. 601.43 Immature and unfit citrus fruit; individual sampling.
Any oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, and citrus hybrids not conforming to the minimum maturity requirements set forth in department rules are deemed and held to be immature and unfit for human consumption. In the testing of fruit to determine whether the same conforms to such requirements, any inspector has the right and authority to test the individual fruit in any given sample of fruit drawn in the number and by the manner as prescribed by department rules. If, upon testing the juice of individual fruit in any sample, more than 10 percent of such individual fruit fail by more than one-half percentage point to meet the minimum ratio of total soluble solids to anhydrous citric acid that is required for such fruit, all of the fruit in the lot from which the sample was drawn is deemed and shall be held to be immature and unfit for human consumption.
F.S. 601.44 Destruction of immature fruit.
All citrus fruit or processed citrus products prepared for sale or transportation, that are being prepared for such purpose, or that have been or are being delivered for sale or transportation that may be found immature or otherwise unfit for human consumption upon inspection and testing shall be seized and destroyed by a citrus fruit inspector or the sheriff of the county where found as may be provided by department rules. Such determination of immaturity or unfitness for human consumption may be made by a citrus fruit inspector at any place where such citrus fruit may be found after severance from the tree, and such seizure and destruction may likewise occur at any such place. However, in the event of seizure of citrus fruit upon the grounds that such citrus fruit fails to show a break in color required by this chapter or department rules for that particular variety of citrus fruit, the owner or person in charge of such citrus fruit shall be allowed to separate and retain for subsequent use, in accordance with this chapter or department rules, that portion of such citrus fruit which shows a break in color required by this chapter or department rules for that particular variety, and in such case, only that portion thereof which fails to show a break in color for such variety, as required by this chapter or department rules, shall be destroyed by a citrus fruit inspector or the sheriff of the county, as may be prescribed by department rules.
F.S. 601.045 Commission meetings; report of department’s internal auditor.
The commission shall include as an agenda item at each regularly scheduled meeting a report by the department’s internal auditor.
F.S. 601.45 Grading of fresh citrus fruit.
(1)
All citrus fruit, except as provided in s. 601.50, sold or shipped, or offered for sale or shipment, for consumption in fresh form shall be graded in a registered packinghouse in this state according to standards established by the department, and the grade of such fruit shall be indicated as provided in this section.
(2)
Fresh citrus fruit being transported in bulk form shall have stamped upon such fruit, subject to department rules:
(a)
The actual grade thereof; or
(b)
Brands or trademarks properly registered with the department to represent state or U.S. grades, as provided in subsection (4).
(3)
For fresh citrus fruit being transported when packed in a closed container approved or otherwise authorized by the department, it shall be sufficient if the closed container has the grade indicated thereon, in accordance with department rules, by:
(a)
Stamping the grade of the fruit on the container; or
(b)
Use of labels, brands, or trademarks properly registered with the department to represent state or U.S. grades, as provided in subsection (4).
(4)
In accordance with such rules as the department may prescribe, licensed citrus fruit dealers in this state are entitled to register labels, brands, or trademarks for grade identification purposes. The department shall maintain a record of all labels, brands, or trademarks registered for grade identification purposes, which record may be purged as necessary.
F.S. 601.46 Condition precedent to sale of citrus fruit.
(1)
It is unlawful, except as provided in s. 601.50, for any person to sell or offer for sale, transport, prepare, receive, or deliver for transportation or market any citrus fruit in fresh form unless such fruit has matured in accordance with the maturity standards and is accompanied by a certificate of inspection and maturity thereof issued by a duly authorized citrus fruit inspector of the Department of Agriculture. However, the Department of Citrus may adopt rules providing that, in lieu of the accompaniment of such shipment by a certificate of inspection and maturity, the fact of such inspection may be shown by appropriate means on the manifest or bill of lading covering such shipment.
(2)
Inspection for maturity may be made at any time, anywhere, after the fruit is severed from the tree until the shipment, after inspection and certification, is accepted by common carrier or until it has been transported beyond the state lines where being transported other than by a common carrier.
(3)
Shipments in bulk, either by common carrier or otherwise, to a packinghouse for repacking in Florida must be reinspected and certified before final delivery to a carrier. However, only one inspection fee shall be paid by the shipper.
(4)
It shall be unlawful at any time for any person to sell or offer for sale, transport, prepare, receive, or deliver for transportation or market any citrus fruit which is immature or otherwise unfit for human consumption, or for any person to receive any such citrus fruit under a contract of sale, or for the purpose of sale, offering for sale, transportation, or delivery for transportation thereof. However, these provisions shall not apply to sale of citrus fruit “on the trees” or to common carriers or their agents when the fruit accepted for transportation or transported by any common carrier is accompanied by proper proof of inspection, maturity, and grade.
F.S. 601.47 Condition precedent to processing citrus.
It is unlawful for any person to can any citrus fruits or to can or concentrate the juices thereof unless such fruit is mature in accordance with the maturity standards and is accompanied by a certificate of inspection and maturity thereof issued by a duly authorized citrus fruit inspector of the Department of Agriculture. Inspection for maturity shall be made at the canning or concentrating plant with the further proviso that shipments either by common carrier or otherwise to a canning plant or a concentrating plant in Florida must be reinspected and recertified before use by the canner or concentrator.
F.S. 601.48 Grading processed citrus products.
(1)
If processed citrus products meet the requirements of the two highest grades as established by the Department of Citrus or, at the option of the processor, the two highest grades established by the United States Department of Agriculture, the processor shall have the privilege of using labels, brands, or trademarks properly registered with the Department of Citrus, as provided in subsection (2), to represent state or U.S. grades.
(2)
In accordance with such rules as the Department of Citrus may prescribe, licensed citrus fruit dealers in this state shall be entitled to register labels, brands, or trademarks for grade identification purposes. The department shall maintain a record of all labels, brands, and trademarks registered for grade identification purposes, which record may be purged as necessary.
(3)
The grade labeling requirements of this section shall not apply to intrastate shipments of processed citrus products between licensed citrus fruit dealers who are operators of processing plants duly registered under s. 601.40.
F.S. 601.49 Condition precedent to selling processed citrus products.
A person, except as provided in s. 601.50, may not sell or offer for sale, transport, receive, or deliver for transportation or market any canned or concentrated products of citrus fruits unless such products have been inspected and are accompanied by a certificate of inspection issued by a duly authorized inspector of the Department of Agriculture. However, in lieu of a certificate of inspection, proof of such inspection may be shown, pursuant to rules adopted by the Department of Citrus, by appropriate means on the manifest or bill of lading covering such shipment.
F.S. 601.50 Exemptions; sale or shipment of citrus or citrus products for certain purposes.
(1)
Notwithstanding ss. 601.45, 601.46, 601.48, 601.49, 601.51, and 601.52, the department may adopt such precautionary rules that it deems expedient to permit the sale or shipment of citrus fruit or the canned or concentrated products thereof without the issuance of and filing of an inspection certificate and without the grade being shown on the container thereof, of:
(a)
Intrastate shipments of fresh citrus fruit for consumption or use within the state.
(b)
Shipments to be used for charitable or unemployment relief purposes.
(c)
Shipments to the United States Government or any of its agencies and interstate shipments to any packinghouse, canning plant, or concentrate plant for commercial processing, as may be defined by the department, or to fresh fruit juice distributors outside the state.
(d)
Shipments by any method of transportation by “gift fruit shippers,” as defined by the department, but such shipments shall not be for the purpose of resale by the consignee thereof.
(2)
However, any such rule adopted under this section may not permit or allow the sale or shipment of citrus fruit deemed by this section to be immature and unfit for human consumption or of canned or concentrated products thereof prepared or made from citrus fruit deemed by this law to be immature and unfit for human consumption. In addition, shipments under paragraphs (1)(a) and (d) must meet such minimum grade standards as may periodically be established by the department, and such rules must provide for the due collection of any advertising assessments and inspection fees that may be due thereon.
F.S. 601.51 Certification required for shipment of citrus fruit or products.
(1)
A person, including a common carrier or other carrier, may not:
(a)
Except as provided in s. 601.50, accept for shipment, ship, or transport any citrus fruit or the canned or concentrated products thereof until a grade certificate is issued showing the grade thereof, which certificate or a duplicate thereof must be filed with the carrier at the point of shipment.
(b)
Accept for shipment or ship any citrus fruit or the canned or concentrated products thereof where written notice has been given to such person, common carrier, or other carrier, or her or his representative or agent, by the Department of Agriculture or its authorized agent, employee, or inspector that such citrus fruit or the canned or concentrated products thereof do not comply with the provisions of law or rules adopted by the Department of Citrus or the Department of Agriculture.
(2)(a)
A shipper or handler of such citrus fruit or the canned or concentrated products thereof has the privilege of repacking or remarking, and if or when such citrus fruit or the canned or concentrated products thereof are repacked or remarked to conform to the provisions of law or rules or orders of the Department of Citrus or the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Agriculture or its authorized inspector or agent shall notify such person, common carrier, or other carrier, or her or his agent, that such citrus fruit or the canned or concentrated products thereof may be accepted for shipment, and such shipper or handler is not considered as having violated this chapter or such rules or orders.
(b)
If a shipper conforms to the rules adopted by the Department of Citrus under s. 601.49, the shipper is deemed to have complied with this section.
F.S. 601.52 Carriers not to accept fruit without evidence of payment of assessments and fees.
A common carrier or other carrier or person, except as provided in s. 601.50, may not accept for shipment, ship, or transport any citrus fruit or processed citrus products unless the grade certificate, manifest, or bill of lading covering such citrus fruit or processed citrus products bears evidence of the payment, as provided by law, of the assessments and fees imposed by this chapter.
F.S. 601.53 Unlawful to process unwholesome citrus.
It is unlawful for any person to can or concentrate, or buy for canning or concentrating purposes, or sell for canning or concentrating purposes in Florida any citrus fruit that is unwholesome or decomposed so that it is unfit for canning or concentrating purposes.
F.S. 601.54 Seizure of unwholesome fruit by Department of Agriculture’s agents.
(1)
The Department of Agriculture or its duly authorized inspectors shall seize and destroy all citrus fruit found by the Department of Agriculture or inspectors to be unwholesome or decomposed so that it is unfit for canning or concentrating purposes as defined by law or by any rule adopted by the Department of Citrus under this chapter, and in the event any inspector finds that any canner or concentrator is canning or concentrating fruit prohibited to be used, she or he may seize and destroy not only such fresh fruit found in the canning or concentrating plant but also citrus fruit or juice in the process of being canned or concentrated or that has been canned or concentrated from the same lot or shipment wherein the fresh fruit is found by such inspector to be subject to seizure under this section.
(2)
Whenever any inspector finds citrus fruit in the canning or concentrating plant which should be destroyed under the provisions of this law, the operator, manager, or other person in charge of the canning or concentrating plant shall make known to the inspector the code number or other manner of identifying any fruit or the canned or concentrated products thereof that has been canned or concentrated from the same lot or shipment wherein is found the said fruit subject to be seized.
F.S. 601.55 Citrus fruit dealer; license required.
(1)
No person shall act as a citrus fruit dealer in this state without first having applied for and obtained the issuance of a current license for each shipping season, or portion thereof.
(2)
An application for a citrus fruit dealer’s license shall be within one of the following classifications, and any license that may be issued upon such application shall have an effective date as herein prescribed.
(a)
A “repeat application” is defined as an application filed by a dealer who held a valid license during the season immediately preceding that for which application is made; and, if the application is approved on or before August 1, such license shall be in effect for the period August 1 through July 31 of the shipping season applied for. Any license issued upon approval of such application, if approval is granted after August 1, shall be effective from the date of license issuance through July 31 of the shipping season applied for.
(b)
Any application filed by an applicant who was not licensed during the immediately preceding shipping season for which the license application is made shall be considered a “new application.” Any license subsequently issued upon approval of such application shall be effective from the date of license issuance through July 31 of the shipping season applied for.
The termination dates of citrus fruit dealers’ licenses as set forth above shall not apply to a temporary license approved and issued in accordance with s. 601.57(3).
(3)
An applicant is limited to the filing of one application for each citrus shipping season, which application may be amended if necessary to comply with the requirements of this chapter and department rules.
F.S. 601.56 Application for dealers’ licenses; requirements.
Any person desiring to engage in the business of a citrus fruit dealer in the state must apply to the department for a license. The department shall adopt rules prescribing the information to be contained in such application.
(1)
All such applications, in addition to other information that may be prescribed by the department, must contain the following information:
(a)
Name and address of the individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, or other business unit applying for a license.
(b)
Names and addresses of the principal stockholders, officers, partners, or other individuals belonging to or connected with the applicant if the applicant for a license is a firm, partnership, association, corporation, or other business unit, whether it be for profit or otherwise.
(c)
The length of time the applicant has been engaged in the citrus fruit business in the state in any manner whatsoever.
(d)
A statement of delinquent accounts, if any, growing out of the ordinary course of business with producers.
(e)
A financial statement of the applicant, if required by the department, showing such information as the department may prescribe regarding the financial conditions of the applicant.
(f)
Whether or not the applicant or any of its officers, directors, or stockholders have previously been licensed as a citrus fruit dealer or connected with a licensed citrus fruit dealer in the state and, if so, the date all such licenses were obtained.
(g)
The number of boxes of citrus fruit, measured in terms of standard-packed boxes, that the applicant intends to deal with during the current or ensuing shipping season.
(2)
If the applicant is an individual and is shown to be a nonresident of the state or is a copartnership and each member is shown to be a nonresident of the state, the applicant shall designate some bona fide resident of the state as such applicant’s resident agent upon whom process may be served. The service of process of any of the courts of this state upon such resident agent shall be as effectual and binding upon such applicant as if personally served upon such applicant.
(3)
If the applicant is a corporation, such corporation must be one organized and existing under the laws of this state or having an unrevoked permit authorizing it to transact business in this state.
(4)
When a license application is submitted for a person or business entity that has an unpaid balance due and owing the department for any citrus assessments or delinquency fees levied and imposed under the authority of this chapter, the applicant shall be notified immediately by the department, and such application may not be further processed or presented to the commission for action until such assessments and fees are paid in full. However, any applicant whose assessments are under review by the department or are contested in the appropriate administrative agency or court shall not have its application denied solely on the basis of owed assessments or fees until the matter is determined by the department, agency, or court.
F.S. 601.57 Examination of application; approval of dealers’ licenses.
(1)
The department shall, within a reasonable time, examine the application and consider the information submitted therewith, including the applicant’s financial statement and the reputation of the applicant as shown by applicant’s past and current history and activities, including applicant’s method and manner of doing business. The department shall also consider the past history of any applicant, either individually or in connection with any individual, copartnership, corporation, association, or other business unit with whom any applicant has been connected in any capacity, and may in proper cases impute to any individual, corporation, copartnership, association, or other business unit liability for any wrong or unlawful act previously done or performed by such individual, corporation, copartnership, association, or other business unit.
(2)
If the Florida Citrus Commission shall, by a majority vote, be of the opinion that the applicant is qualified and entitled to a license as a citrus fruit dealer, the commission shall approve the application; otherwise the application shall be disapproved. However, commission approval of any application may be contingent upon such reasonable conditions as may be endorsed thereon by the commission, or commission action on an application may, by majority vote, be deferred to a subsequent date.
(3)
In cases of deferred action, as set forth in subsection (2), if the applicant so requests and the factual circumstances are deemed by the commission so to justify, the commission may approve the granting of a temporary license to be valid for a period to be set by the commission, not to exceed 60 days. No more than one temporary license shall be approved for any applicant during a shipping season. No temporary license may be approved unless all requirements relating to bonds or fees required to be posted or paid by the applicant have been met the same as though the approval were not of a temporary nature.
(4)
Grounds for the disapproval of the application include, but are not limited to:
(a)
Any previous conduct of the applicant which would have been grounds for revocation or suspension of a license as hereinafter provided if the applicant had been licensed.
(b)
Delinquent accounts of the applicant owing to and growing out of the ordinary course of business with producers and other persons or firms.
(c)
Delinquent accounts of the applicant with any person or persons with whom applicant has dealt in its operations under a previous license.
(d)
Failure of the applicant or its owners, partners, officers, or agents to comply with any valid order of the Department of Agriculture or the Department of Citrus relating to citrus fruit laws or rules.
(e)
Applicant’s violation, or aiding or abetting in the violation, of any federal or Florida law or governmental agency rule or regulation governing or applicable to citrus fruit dealers.
(5)
When the applicant is a corporate or other business entity, the term “applicant” as used in this section shall be deemed to include within its meaning those individuals who have been, or can reasonably be expected to be, actively engaged in the managerial affairs of the corporate or other business entity applicant.
(6)
The department shall designate not more than three employees directly involved in the processing of citrus fruit dealer license applications, who shall be a part of, and shall have access to, the criminal justice information system described in chapter 943, for purposes of investigating license applicants.
(7)
The department may adopt rules establishing the procedure and guidelines for granting interim conditional staff approval for issuance of a conditional citrus fruit dealer’s license, which license shall at all times be subject to final approval or other action by the commission at its next regular meeting. Any license so issued shall clearly and conspicuously indicate thereon the conditional nature of the approval and pendency of final action.
F.S. 601.58 Application approval or disapproval.
(1)
Each citrus fruit dealer’s license application that is approved, or approved subject to conditions, shall be forwarded immediately to the Department of Agriculture, which shall, upon satisfaction of the stated conditions, if any are endorsed thereon, issue to the applicant an appropriate license as prescribed in s. 601.60.
(2)
Each temporary license granted under s. 601.57(3), license with conditions approved by the commission under s. 601.57(2), or conditional license issued upon interim staff approval under s. 601.57(7) shall clearly and conspicuously show thereon the specific conditions, or the temporary or conditional nature, thereof.
(3)
No license shall be issued to any applicant whose application has been finally disapproved by the commission. Once an application has been finally disapproved by the commission, the application shall remain disapproved for the remainder of the subject shipping season.
F.S. 601.59 Dealer’s license fee; agent’s registration fee.
(1)
Each applicant who qualifies for a citrus fruit dealer’s license shall pay to the Department of Agriculture, prior to issuance of such license, a license fee of $25 per shipping season or portion thereof covered by the license.
(2)
A registration fee of $10 per shipping season or portion thereof covered by the dealer’s license shall be paid to the Department of Agriculture for the registration of each agent of a licensed citrus fruit dealer.
(3)
All license and registration fees imposed and collected under the provisions of this section shall be paid to the State Treasury on or before the 15th day of each month. Such moneys shall be deposited in the Citrus Inspection Trust Fund and are hereby appropriated in the manner provided by s. 601.28(3)(b).
F.S. 601.60 Issuance of dealers’ licenses.
(1)
Whenever an application bears the approved endorsement of the Department of Citrus and satisfactions of conditions of approval, if any, and the applicant has paid the prescribed fee, the Department of Agriculture shall issue to such applicant a license, as approved by the Department of Citrus, which shall entitle the licensee to do business as a citrus fruit dealer during the effective term of such license in accordance with s. 601.55 or, if applicable, until such license is suspended or revoked by the Department of Agriculture in accordance with law. The Department of Agriculture may issue a provisional license for a period of no longer than 1 year to an applicant who is under investigation for an action that would constitute a violation of this chapter or has pending against such applicant an administrative or civil proceeding that alleges an action that would constitute a violation of this chapter. The department shall establish by rule requirements for renewal of a provisional license. When the investigation is complete or the pending proceeding has been disposed of, the Department of Agriculture may issue a regular license under this section.
(2)
If, during the effective term of such license, there is any change in the ownership, officers, managership, or stockholders of any copartnership, association, corporation, or other business unit to which a license has been issued, the licensee shall immediately notify the Department of Citrus in writing specifying the change in detail. The Department of Citrus may receive, and the licensee must promptly furnish, such additional information as if the licensee were applying for a new license. If, after investigating the facts and applying the standards prescribed for the issuance of new licenses, the commission finds that the licensee is not entitled to a citrus fruit dealer’s license, the commission shall recommend to the Department of Agriculture that such existing license be suspended or revoked, and upon such recommendation, the Department of Agriculture shall immediately take necessary steps to suspend or revoke such existing license.
F.S. 601.61 Bond requirements of citrus fruit dealers.
(1)(a)
Except as provided in this section, before the approval of a citrus fruit dealer’s license, the applicant must deliver to the Department of Agriculture a good and sufficient cash bond, an appropriate certificate of deposit, or a surety bond executed by the applicant as principal and by a surety company qualified to do business in this state as surety, in an amount determined by the Department of Citrus pursuant to rules adopted by the department. The rules shall allow the department to consider any of the following factors for determining the amount of such bonds or certificates of deposit: the number of standard-packed boxes of citrus fruit, or the equivalent thereof, that the applicant intends to handle during the term of the license as set forth in the application; the total volume of fruit handled by the dealer the previous season; the highest month’s volume handled the previous season; the anticipated increase in the total citrus crop during the season for which the application for license is made; or other relevant factors.
(b)
If a citrus fruit dealer during the term of her or his license finds that she or he has handled, or can reasonably expect to handle, a volume of fruit greater than that covered by a posted bond or certificate of deposit, the dealer has the affirmative duty to immediately notify the Department of Agriculture and initiate a review by the Department of Citrus to determine any increase required in the amount of such bond or certificate of deposit to comply with the department’s rules for determining the amount of such bonds or certificates of deposit.
(2)
Such bond shall be in the form approved by the Department of Agriculture and shall be conditioned as provided in s. 601.66(9); to fully comply with the terms and conditions of all contracts, verbal or written, made by the citrus fruit dealer with producers or with other citrus fruit dealers relative to the purchasing, handling, sale, and accounting of purchases and sales of citrus fruit; upon the dealer’s accounting for the proceeds from, and paying for, any citrus fruit purchased or contracted for in accordance with the terms of the contracts with producers; and upon the dealer’s accounting for any advance payments or deposits made, and delivering all citrus fruit contracted for, in accordance with the terms of the contracts with other citrus fruit dealers. The commission may prescribe by rule that such a producer contract contain information that it considers necessary to protect the producer from deceptive practices. For purposes of this chapter, every such contract shall be conclusively deemed to have been made and entered into during the shipping season in which the delivery of fruit into the primary channel of trade is made.
(3)
Such bond shall be to the Department of Agriculture for the use and benefit of every producer and of every citrus fruit dealer with whom the dealer deals in the purchase, handling, sale, and accounting of purchases and sales of citrus fruit. The aggregate accumulative liability under any bond may not exceed the amount of the bond. Such bond shall provide that the surety company executing the bond is not liable to any citrus fruit dealer claiming to be injured or damaged by such dealer if the aggregate of the amounts found to be due to producers pursuant to this chapter equals or exceeds the amount of the bond, unless such citrus fruit dealer is also a producer and is acting in the capacity of a producer and not in the capacity of a citrus fruit dealer in the transaction wherein she or he claims to have been injured or damaged by applicant; however, if the aggregate of such amounts is less than the amount of the bond, the surety may be held liable to such citrus fruit dealers, but not in excess of the sum by which the amount of the bond exceeds the aggregate of the amounts found to be due to producers pursuant to this chapter.
(4)
The Department of Citrus or the Department of Agriculture, or any officer or employee designated by the Department of Citrus or the Department of Agriculture, is authorized to inspect such accounts and records of any citrus fruit dealer as may be deemed necessary to determine whether a bond that has been delivered to the Department of Agriculture is in the amount required by this section or whether a previously licensed nonbonded dealer should be required to furnish bond. If any such citrus fruit dealer refuses to permit such inspection, the Department of Agriculture may publish the facts and circumstances and by order suspend the license of the offender until permission to make such inspection is given. Upon a finding by the Department of Agriculture that any citrus fruit dealer has dealt or probably will deal with more fruit during the season than shown by the application, the Department of Agriculture may order such bond increased to such an amount as will meet the requirements set forth in the rules adopted by the Department of Citrus for determining the amount of such bonds. Upon failure to file such increased bond within the time fixed by the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Agriculture may publish the facts and circumstances and by order suspend the license of such citrus fruit dealer until such bond is increased as ordered.
(5)(a)
The following citrus fruit, subject to such rules as may be prescribed by the Department of Citrus, is not considered fruit with which the applicant intends to deal for the purpose of determining the amount of the bond required under subsection (1):
1.
Citrus fruit that the applicant produces.
2.
Citrus fruit that is handled for its members by a cooperative marketing association organized and existing under chapter 618 or chapter 619.
3.
Fresh citrus fruit handled by the applicant that has been prepared and packaged by a registered packinghouse other than the applicant and has been inspected and certified for shipment.
4.
Citrus fruit handled by the applicant from citrus groves for which the applicant provides complete grove management services under direct contract with the owner or producer.
5.
Citrus fruit handled by a corporate or partnership applicant that is from citrus groves owned by officers or stockholders of the corporation or from citrus groves owned by the partnership, the parent corporation, or a wholly owned subsidiary corporation or its corporate officers or stockholders, or any partner of a partnership, if appropriate waivers of right to any claim against the bond required to be posted by this section are attached to and made a part of the license application.
6.
Processed citrus fruit handled by the applicant that has been processed and packaged by a registered citrus processing plant other than the applicant and has been inspected and certified for shipment.
(b)
If the applicant does not intend to deal with any citrus fruit other than that described in paragraph (a), the Department of Agriculture shall issue a license without the posting of a bond. Such a license shall bear a descriptive statement to the effect that the licensee is not a bonded citrus fruit dealer.
(c)
A claim against any citrus fruit dealer’s bond required to be posted by this section shall not be accepted with respect to any damages in connection with fruit handled under subparagraphs (a)1.-6. if such claim is filed against the bond of the dealer who was granted bond exempt status for such fruit.
F.S. 601.64 Citrus fruit dealers; unlawful acts.
It is unlawful in, or in connection with, any transaction relative to the purchase, handling, sale, and accounting of sales of citrus fruit:
(1)
For any citrus fruit dealer to make or exact any fraudulent charge to or from any person;
(2)
For any citrus fruit dealer to reject or fail to deliver in accordance with the terms of the contract without reasonable cause any citrus fruit bought, sold, or contracted to be bought or sold by such citrus fruit dealer;
(3)
For any citrus fruit dealer to discard, dump, or destroy without reasonable cause any citrus fruit received by such citrus fruit dealer;
(4)
For any citrus fruit dealer to make, for a fraudulent purpose, any false or misleading statement concerning the condition, quality, quantity, or disposition of, or the condition of the market for, any citrus fruit which is received by such citrus fruit dealer or bought or sold or contracted to be bought or sold by such citrus fruit dealer; or the purchase or sale of which is negotiated by such citrus fruit dealer; or to fail or refuse truly and correctly to account and make full payment promptly in respect of any such transaction in any such citrus fruit to the person with whom such transaction is had, or to fail or refuse on such account to make full payment of such amounts as may be due thereon, or to fail without reasonable cause to perform any specification or duty express or implied arising out of any undertaking in connection with any such transaction;
(5)
For any citrus fruit dealer to knowingly buy, sell, receive, process, or handle stolen citrus fruit;
(6)
For any citrus fruit dealer to violate, or aid or abet in the violation of, any law of Florida governing or applicable to citrus fruit dealers, including any of the provisions of this chapter not herein specifically set forth;
(7)
For any citrus fruit dealer to violate or aid or abet in the violation of any rule adopted by the department.
F.S. 601.65 Liability of citrus fruit dealers.
If any licensed citrus fruit dealer violates any provision of this chapter, such dealer shall be liable to the person allegedly injured thereby for the full amount of damages sustained in consequence of such violation. Such liability may be enforced either by proceeding in an administrative action to and before the Department of Agriculture and pursuing such action to its ultimate termination if desired or by filing of a judicial suit at law in a court of competent jurisdiction; however, in such court suit the bond of such citrus fruit dealer theretofore posted with the Department of Agriculture pursuant to s. 601.61 shall not be amenable or subject to any judgment or other legal process issuing out of or from such court in connection with such law suit, whether cash bond or surety company bond, but such bonds shall be amenable to and enforceable only by and through administrative proceedings before the Department of Agriculture, it being the intent and purpose of the Legislature that such citrus dealer’s bond so posted with the Department of Agriculture shall be applicable and liable only for the payment of claims duly adjudicated by order of the Department of Agriculture and the determination of such adjudicated claim if and in the event such order is appealed by any aggrieved party to the administrative proceeding.
F.S. 601.66 Complaints of violations by citrus fruit dealers; procedure; bond distribution; court action on bond.
(1)
Any person may complain of any violation of this chapter by any citrus fruit dealer during any shipping season by filing of a written complaint with the Department of Agriculture at any time before May 1 of the year immediately after the end of such shipping season. Such complaint shall briefly state the facts, and the Department of Agriculture shall thereupon, if the facts alleged prima facie warrant such action, forward true copies of such complaint to the dealer in question and also to the surety company on the dealer’s bond. The dealer at such time shall be called upon, within a reasonable time to be prescribed by the Department of Agriculture, either to satisfy the complaint or to answer the complaint in writing, either admitting or denying the liability.
(2)
If the dealer admits the violation but fails to satisfy the complaint within the time fixed by the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Agriculture shall thereupon order payment by the dealer of the damages sustained.
(3)
If the dealer, in her or his answer to the original complaint, denies the violation alleged, the Department of Agriculture shall thereupon determine whether the facts and circumstances set forth in the complaint have been established by competent substantial evidence.
(4)
If the Department of Agriculture determines that the complaint has not been so established as aforesaid, the order shall, among other things, dismiss the proceeding.
(5)
If the Department of Agriculture determines that the allegations of the complaint have been established as aforesaid, it shall make its findings of fact accordingly and thereupon adjudicate the amount of indebtedness or damages due to be paid by the dealer to the complainant. The administrative order shall fix a reasonable time within which said indebtedness shall be paid by the dealer.
(6)
Upon failure by a dealer to comply with an order of the Department of Agriculture directing payment, the Department of Agriculture shall call upon the surety company to pay over to the Department of Agriculture, out of the bond theretofore posted by the surety for such dealer, the amount of damages sustained but not exceeding the amount of the bond. The proceeds to the Department of Agriculture by the surety company shall, in the discretion of the Department of Agriculture, be paid to the original complainant or held by the Department of Agriculture for later disbursement, depending upon the time during the shipping season when the complaint was made, when liability was admitted by the dealer, when the proceeds were so paid by the surety company to the Department of Agriculture, the amount of other claims then pending against the same dealer, the amount of other claims already adjudicated against the dealer, and such other pertinent facts as the Department of Agriculture in its discretion may consider material. The Department of Agriculture, if it decides to pay the proceeds to the original complainant, may order an increase in the original bond of the dealer to such higher sum as the Department of Agriculture would be justified under all the circumstances so as to protect other possible claimants and to exercise all powers otherwise confided to it under this chapter to enforce the posting of such increased bond. The Department of Agriculture also, in its discretion as the facts and circumstances might appear to it, may hold the amount of such proceeds until such later time, up to the time when all claims have been filed during the allotted period after the closing of the shipping season and such claims adjudicated, and may disburse the total proceeds in its possession paid over to it by the surety company on the dealer’s bond as such claims were adjudicated to the various claimants, paying first to the producers the amount of their claims in full, if such proceeds are sufficient for such purpose, and if not, then in pro rata shares to such producer claimants. The balance of any additional proceeds in the hands of the Department of Agriculture, after all claims of producers have been paid in full, shall be paid to claimants who are citrus fruit dealers, either in whole or in pro rata portion, as the aggregate of their claims may bear to the amount of such additional proceeds.
(7)
Upon failure of a surety company to comply with a demand for payment of the proceeds of a citrus fruit dealer’s bond pursuant to administrative orders entered by the Department of Agriculture fixing amounts due claimants, the Department of Agriculture shall within a reasonable time file in the Circuit Court in and for Polk County an original petition or complaint setting forth the administrative proceedings before the Department of Agriculture and ask for final order of the court directing the surety company to pay the proceeds of the bond to the Department of Agriculture for distribution to the claimants.
(8)
In any court proceeding filed under subsection (7), the findings of facts and orders of the Department of Agriculture shall be prima facie evidence of the facts therein stated, and if in such suit the Department of Agriculture is successful and the court affirms the Department of Agriculture’s demand for payment from the surety company, the Department of Agriculture shall be allowed all court costs incurred therein and also reasonable attorney fees to be fixed and collected as a part of the costs of the suit.
(9)
The bond required to be posted by citrus fruit dealers under s. 601.61 shall be subject, and so conditioned therein, only to payment of claims duly adjudicated by the Department of Agriculture. All proceeds from such bonds shall be paid over by the surety company directly to the Department of Agriculture, to be disbursed by it to successful claimants in whose favor the Department of Agriculture has entered administrative order or orders. Such funds shall be considered trust funds in the hands of the Department of Agriculture for the exclusive purpose of satisfying orders of indebtedness duly adjudicated. Cash bonds which may be posted by citrus fruit dealers in lieu of surety company bonds shall occupy the same legal status as funds paid over by the surety company to the Department of Agriculture for payment of claims.
F.S. 601.67 Disciplinary action by Department of Agriculture against citrus fruit dealers.
(1)
The Department of Agriculture may impose an administrative fine in the Class IV category pursuant to s. 570.971 not to exceed $50,000 for each violation against a licensed citrus fruit dealer who violates this chapter and, in lieu of or in addition to such fine, may revoke or suspend the license of such a dealer when it has been satisfactorily shown that such dealer, in her or his activities as a citrus fruit dealer, has:
(a)
Obtained a license by means of fraud, misrepresentation, or concealment;
(b)
Violated or aided or abetted in the violation of any law of this state governing or applicable to citrus fruit dealers or any lawful rules of the Department of Citrus;
(c)
Been guilty of a crime against the laws of this or any other state or government involving moral turpitude or dishonest dealing or has become legally incompetent to contract or be contracted with;
(d)
Made, printed, published, distributed, or caused, authorized, or knowingly permitted the making, printing, publication, or distribution of false statements, descriptions, or promises of such a character as to reasonably induce a person to act to her or his damage or injury, if such citrus fruit dealer then knew, or by the exercise of reasonable care and inquiry could have known, of the falsity of such statements, descriptions, or promises;
(e)
Knowingly committed or been a party to any material fraud, misrepresentation, concealment, conspiracy, collusion, trick, scheme, or device whereby another person lawfully relying upon the word, representation, or conduct of the citrus fruit dealer has acted to her or his injury or damage;
(f)
Committed any act or conduct of the same or different character than that enumerated which constitutes fraudulent or dishonest dealing; or
(g)
Violated ss. 506.19-506.28.
(2)
The Department of Agriculture may impose an administrative fine in the Class IV category pursuant to s. 570.971 not to exceed $100,000 for each violation against a person who operates as a citrus fruit dealer without a current citrus fruit dealer license issued by the Department of Agriculture pursuant to s. 601.60. In addition, the Department of Agriculture may order such person to cease and desist operating as a citrus fruit dealer without a license. An administrative order entered by the Department of Agriculture under this subsection may be enforced pursuant to s. 601.73.
(3)
The Department of Agriculture shall impose an administrative fine in the Class IV category pursuant to s. 570.971 not to exceed $100,000 for each violation against a licensed citrus fruit dealer and shall suspend, for 60 days during the first available period between September 1 and May 31, the license of a citrus fruit dealer who:
(a)
Falsely labels or otherwise misrepresents that a fresh citrus fruit was grown in a specific production area specified in s. 601.091; or
(b)
Knowingly, falsely labels or otherwise misrepresents that a processed citrus fruit product was prepared solely with citrus fruit grown in a specific production area specified in s. 601.091.
(4)
A fine imposed pursuant to subsection (1), subsection (2), or subsection (3), when paid, shall be deposited by the Department of Agriculture into its General Inspection Trust Fund.
(5)
Whenever an administrative order has been made and entered by the Department of Agriculture that imposes a fine pursuant to this section, such order shall specify a time limit for payment of the fine, not exceeding 15 days. The failure of the citrus fruit dealer to pay the fine within that time shall result in the immediate suspension of such citrus fruit dealer’s current license, or any subsequently issued license, until the order has been fully satisfied. An order suspending a citrus fruit dealer’s license shall include a provision that the suspension shall be for a specified period not to exceed 60 days, and such period of suspension may begin at any designated date within the current license period or subsequent license period. Whenever an order has been entered that suspends a citrus fruit dealer’s license for a definite period and that license, by law, expires during the period of suspension, the suspension order shall continue automatically and shall be effective against any subsequent citrus fruit dealer license issued to such dealer until the entire period of suspension has elapsed. Whenever any such administrative order of the Department of Agriculture is sought to be reviewed by the offending dealer involved in a court of competent jurisdiction, if such court proceedings should finally terminate in such administrative order being upheld or not quashed, such order shall, upon the filing with the Department of Agriculture of a certified copy of the mandate or other order of the last court having to do with the matter in the judicial process, become immediately effective and shall then be carried out and enforced notwithstanding such time will be during a new and subsequent shipping season from that during which the administrative order was first originally entered by the Department of Agriculture.
F.S. 601.68 Investigation of violations.
The Department of Agriculture may instigate and make investigation of any citrus fruit dealer who it has reason to believe has violated any law of this state governing and applicable to citrus fruit dealers, and, whenever the Department of Agriculture determines that any citrus fruit dealer has violated any law of the state governing and applicable to citrus fruit dealers, it may publish the facts and circumstances of such violation and suspend the license of such offender for a specific period or revoke the same or make such other appropriate order as it may deem just and proper, and any such order shall specify the effective date thereof and any order other than one suspending or revoking a license shall automatically suspend such license until said order is complied with. Any administrative order of the Department of Agriculture issued under the provisions of ss. 601.66-601.68 or s. 601.70 shall be deemed to have been issued in the county wherein the licensee has her or his main office, as disclosed in the licensee’s application for citrus dealer’s license.
F.S. 601.69 Records to be kept by citrus fruit dealers.
Every citrus fruit dealer shall make and keep a correct record showing in detail the following with reference to the purchase, handling, sale, and accounting of sale of citrus fruit handled by her or him, namely:
(1)
The name and address of the producers or other persons from whom the citrus fruit was procured, and, if same was procured from some person other than a licensed citrus fruit dealer, the name and address of the producer of said fruit;
(2)
The date citrus fruit is received, the amount thereof, and the purchase price paid therefor if purchased for the purpose of resale;
(3)
The condition of such citrus fruit upon receipt by the citrus fruit dealer;
(4)
If the citrus fruit is handled on consignment for the account of the producer, the date of sale and the selling price;
(5)
An itemized statement of the charges to be paid by the producer in connection with any sale;
(6)
A detailed statement of all claims made by producers against the citrus fruit dealer, a copy of each when received to be certified and filed with the Department of Agriculture;
(7)
A copy of the record and account of sale of citrus fruit handled on consignment or commission shall be delivered to the producer upon the consummation of the sale, together with all moneys received by the citrus fruit dealer in payment for such transaction made upon account of the producer, less the agreed commission and other charges which must be separately itemized, and said payment and accounting must be made by said citrus fruit dealer to the producer within 15 days after said citrus fruit dealer receives the money in payment of said citrus fruit unless otherwise specified in contract between citrus fruit dealers and producer;
(8)
A detailed statement and record of the resale or commercial disposition of citrus fruit so purchased by the dealer for purpose of resale or other commercial disposition, showing the number of boxes resold, the moneys received by such dealer upon such resale of the fruit, the person or dealer and address thereof to whom sold, the date of such resale, and how delivered to such purchaser;
(9)
Any other record or account required to be kept and maintained by such dealer by rule adopted by the department.
F.S. 601.70 Inspection of records by Department of Agriculture.
The Department of Agriculture or its duly authorized agents have the right to inspect all accounts, records, and memoranda of any citrus fruit dealer required to be kept under this chapter. If any such citrus fruit dealer refuses to permit such inspection, the Department of Agriculture may publish the facts and circumstances and by order suspend the license of the offender until permission to make such inspection is given.
F.S. 601.72 Penalties for violations.
Any person who violates or aids or abets in the violation of any provision of this chapter shall for each offense be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083; provided further that a person shall be guilty hereunder upon conviction for nonpayment of a debt arising solely out of the purchase or sale of citrus fruits only when criminal fraud is proved. Civil suits against a citrus fruit dealer only, without resort to such dealer’s bond as provided in s. 601.65, and also criminal prosecutions arising by violation of any of the provisions of this chapter as herein provided, may be instituted or prosecuted in the county where the said citrus fruit was received by the dealer or in the county wherein the principal place of business of such dealer is located within the state, or within the county in which the alleged violation occurred; and if such violation occurs in more than one county, then within the county wherein such violation or any part thereof occurred.
F.S. 601.73 Additional methods of enforcement.
The several circuit courts of the state, sitting in chancery, are vested with jurisdiction specifically to enforce, and to enjoin and restrain any citrus fruit dealer from violating the provisions of this law, or any rule, regulation, or order made by the Department of Agriculture, in any proceeding brought by the Department of Agriculture in any of said circuit courts; and in any such proceeding it shall not be necessary for the Department of Agriculture to allege or prove that an adequate remedy at law does not exist.
F.S. 601.74 Fees for licensing and analysis of processing materials.
The Department of Agriculture may set fees with respect to the licensing and analysis of materials and composition used on or in the packing of citrus fruits. Fees shall be not less than $30 nor more than $100 for each manufacturer applying to the Department of Agriculture. All such license fees collected under this section shall be paid monthly by the Department of Agriculture into the State Treasury to the credit of the General Inspection Trust Fund and shall be appropriated and made available for defraying the expenses incurred in the administration of this law.
F.S. 601.79 To color grapefruit and tangerines prohibited.
It is unlawful for any person to use on grapefruit or tangerines or apply thereto any coloring matter.
F.S. 601.80 Unlawful to use uncertified coloring matter.
It is unlawful for any person to use on oranges or citrus hybrids any coloring matter which has not first received the approval of the Department of Agriculture.
F.S. 601.85 Standard shipping box for fresh fruit.
The specifications for the standard shipping box, when used as a unit of trade or for reporting purposes, shall be as established by the department, but the unit of a standard-packed box, commonly called 1
3
/
5
bushels, shall contain an inside cubical measurement of 3,456 cubic inches.
F.S. 601.86 Standard field boxes for fresh citrus fruit.
The standard field box or its equivalent, when used as a unit of trade or for reporting purposes, shall be of the uniform standard size of 31
1
/
2
inches long, 13 inches high, and 12 inches wide, inside measurements, and shall be divided into two compartments by a center partition of at least three-fourths inch thickness, and each of these compartments thus created shall have a cubical capacity that does not exceed 2,400 cubic inches.
F.S. 601.88 Oversized boxes to be stamped.
(1)
It is unlawful to use any field box that exceeds the total capacity of 4,900 cubic inches in the purchase, sale, or handling of oranges, grapefruit, or tangerines by a citrus fruit dealer from or for a grower, unless all field boxes exceeding this dimension shall have plainly stamped on both ends of the box in letters of the dimension of 1 inch in height and width the word “oversize.”
(2)
It is unlawful to use any “tractor box” or other bulk harvesting equipment or special type field box that exceeds the total capacity of 4,900 cubic inches in the purchase, sale, or handling of oranges, grapefruit, or tangerines by a citrus fruit dealer from or for a grower, unless such tractor box or other bulk harvesting equipment or special type field box exceeding this dimension shall have plainly stamped on both ends of the tractor box or other bulk harvesting equipment or special type field box in letters of the dimension of 1 inch in height and width the actual content expressed in terms of standard field box equivalent as defined in s. 601.86.
F.S. 601.89 Citrus fruit; when damaged by freezing.
(1)
Citrus fruit shall be deemed “seriously” damaged by freezing when such freezing causes:
(a)
Marked dryness to extend into the segments of oranges and grapefruit more than
1
/
2
inch at the stem end; or into segments of mandarin or hybrid varieties more than
1
/
4
inch at the stem end; or more than an equivalent amount by volume of dryness to occur in any other portions of the fruit.
(b)
Internal freeze-related injury, as defined in subsection (3), when such condition or combination of conditions is determined to affect the fruit to a degree equal in seriousness to that described in paragraph (a).
(2)
Citrus fruit shall be deemed “damaged” by freezing when such freezing causes:
(a)
Marked dryness to extend into the segments of oranges and grapefruit more than
1
/
4
inch but less than
1
/
2
inch at the stem end; or into segments of mandarin or hybrid varieties more than
1
/
8
inch but less than
1
/
4
inch at the stem end; or more than an equivalent amount by volume of dryness to occur in any portions of the fruit.
(b)
Internal freeze-related injury, as defined by subsection (3), when such condition or combination of conditions is determined to affect the fruit to a degree equal in seriousness to that described in paragraph (a).
(3)
Internal freeze-related injury to citrus fruit, caused by freezing, shall consist of any of the following:
(a)
Wet cores or wet segment walls;
(b)
Water soaking;
(c)
Juice cell breakdown;
(d)
Mushy condition;
(e)
Honeycomb or open spaces in pulp; or
(f)
Other evidence of internal breakdown, decay, or moldy condition.
F.S. 601.091 Florida SunRidge, Indian River, and Gulf production areas, boundaries and designation.
(1)
Unless otherwise specifically provided by final court order entered as a result of a legal proceeding instituted prior to July 1, 1976, only citrus fruit grown within the boundaries of a specified production area of this state, or processed citrus products prepared solely from such citrus fruit, may be identified, classified, labeled, or otherwise designated with the name of such production area or identified, classified, labeled, or otherwise designated in any manner so as to imply that such citrus fruit, or processed citrus product produced therefrom, was grown in the specified production area.
(2)
The “Indian River” production area of this state shall encompass only that part of the state particularly described as follows: Beginning at a point on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean where the line between Flagler and Volusia Counties intersects said shore, thence follow the line between said two counties to the southwest corner of Section 23, Township 14 South, Range 31 East; thence continue south to the southwest corner of Section 35, Township 14 South, Range 31 East; thence east to the northwest corner of Township 15 South, Range 32 East; thence south to the southwest corner of Township 17 South, Range 32 East; thence east to the northwest corner of Township 18 South, Range 33 East; thence south to the St. Johns River, thence along the main channel of the St. Johns River and through Lake Harney, Lake Poinsett, Lake Winder, Lake Washington, Sawgrass Lake, and Lake Helen Blazes to the range line between Ranges 35 East and 36 East; thence south to the south line of Brevard County; thence east to the line between Ranges 36 East and 37 East; thence south to the southwest corner of St. Lucie County; thence east to the line between Ranges 39 East and 40 East; thence south to the south line of Martin County; thence east to the line between Ranges 40 East and 41 East; thence south to the West Palm Beach Canal (also known as the Okeechobee Canal); thence follow said canal eastward to the mouth thereof; thence east to the shore of the Atlantic Ocean; thence northerly along the shore of the Atlantic Ocean to the point of beginning.
(3)
The “Gulf” production area of this state shall encompass all of Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee Counties.
(4)
The “Florida SunRidge” production area of this state shall encompass all the area of the state not included within the boundaries established by subsections (2) and (3).
F.S. 601.91 Unlawful to sell, transport, prepare, receive, or deliver freeze-damaged citrus.
(1)
It is unlawful at any time for any person to sell or offer for sale, to transport, or to prepare, receive, or deliver for transportation or market, except for canning, concentrating, or byproduct purposes within the state, any citrus fruit seriously damaged by freezing, as defined in s. 601.89. Not more than 15 percent by count of the citrus fruit in any one container or bulk lot may be seriously damaged by freezing injury; but not more than one-third of this tolerance shall be allowed for citrus fruit now or hereafter deemed adulterated by federal law or regulation.
(2)
No lot of citrus fruit seriously damaged by freezing may be mixed with other lots of citrus fruit which are free from damage by freezing resulting in concealment of inferior fruit and thereby reducing the percentage of defective fruit in the seriously damaged lot to within the tolerance permitted for error in grading only.
(3)
The manner and method of drawing samples and conducting tests under this section shall be prescribed by rules of the Department of Citrus. The inspection in the state of all citrus fruits seriously damaged by freezing and the enforcement of this section and of rules and orders of the department pursuant to and under authority of this section shall be under the direction, supervision, and control of the Department of Agriculture and its duly authorized agents and inspectors who are qualified under existing laws to inspect for grade and maturity, and all citrus fruits that may be found to be seriously damaged by freezing, as defined by s. 601.89, upon inspection and testing shall be seized and may be confiscated and destroyed under the supervision of the citrus fruit inspector at the expense of the owner unless previous disposition is made by the owner or other person who offered the same for inspection, all the provisions of this section being subject to such reasonable rules as may be adopted by the Department of Citrus.
F.S. 601.92 Use of arsenic in connection with citrus.
Persons owning, managing, or tending and cultivating citrus groves or trees shall not use arsenic or any of its derivatives, or any combination, compound, or preparation containing arsenic as a fertilizer or spray on bearing citrus trees, except grapefruit trees.
F.S. 601.93 Sale of citrus containing arsenic.
No person shall sell or offer for sale, transport, prepare, secure, or deliver for transportation or market any fruit of any variety except grapefruit which contains any arsenic or any compound or derivative of arsenic.
F.S. 601.94 Fruit containing arsenic; powers of inspection.
Citrus fruit inspectors are authorized:
(1)
To inspect citrus fruit, except grapefruit, for arsenic content at any packinghouse, canning plant, concentrating plant, or other place where citrus fruit, except grapefruit, is being received or prepared for sale or transportation, and
(2)
To enforce the provisions of these arsenic laws under the direction and supervision of the Department of Agriculture in accordance with the law and rules and regulations prescribed by the said Department of Agriculture.
F.S. 601.95 Seizure of citrus fruit containing arsenic.
Whenever any citrus fruit inspector shall find citrus fruit, except grapefruit, at any packinghouse, canning plant, concentrating plant, or other place that the same is being received or prepared for sale or transportation which citrus fruit shall, when tested, show an abnormal and excessively high ratio of total soluble solids of the juice thereof to the anhydrous citric acid thereof indicating the presence of arsenic therein, said inspector shall at once seize and take possession of said citrus fruit, except grapefruit, pending the procuring of the chemical analysis provided for in this chapter notifying the manager or other person in charge of said packinghouse, canning plant, concentrating plant, or other place where the said fruit is being received of such seizure. It is unlawful for the manager of said packinghouse, canning plant, concentrating plant, or other place where the fruit is being received, or the owner of said citrus fruit, or any person whomsoever to sell, transport, or in any way move or dispose of any of said fruit from the time of seizure thereof until after the making of said chemical analysis and the receipt of the chemist’s report thereon; provided that no citrus fruit so seized may be held by any inspector more than 96 hours after the time of seizure thereof unless the same shall be shown by the chemist’s analysis to contain arsenic.
F.S. 601.96 Seized fruit; taking samples for analysis.
Upon the making of seizure of any citrus fruit as provided in s. 601.95, the inspector making said seizure shall immediately draw samples therefrom, as shall be provided for by regulations to be issued by the Department of Agriculture, drawing said samples either from the packinghouse, canning plant, or concentrating plant bins, or elsewhere in the packinghouse, canning plant, or concentrating plant, or from field boxes or vehicles delivering said citrus fruit to said packinghouse. Such samples so drawn by said inspector shall be transported with all possible haste to such chemist as may be designated by the Department of Agriculture for the making by such chemist of a chemical analysis thereof to determine whether or not the said citrus fruit contains arsenic. Said chemist shall make said analysis with all the proper haste and report by the quickest means available the result of said analysis as soon as the same is completed to the inspector making the seizure. If the said analysis shall show that the said citrus fruit contains no arsenic, the inspector shall release the fruit from seizure as soon as she or he receives the report of the chemist thereon.
F.S. 601.97 Destruction of certain fruit containing arsenic.
All citrus fruit, except grapefruit, prepared for sale or transportation, or which is being prepared for such purpose, or which has been or is being delivered for sale or transportation that may be shown by the chemical analysis provided for in s. 601.96 to contain arsenic, or any compound or derivative of arsenic, shall be destroyed by the inspector making seizure of the same, or by any citrus fruit inspector, or by the sheriff of the county where found, as may be provided by regulations prescribed by the Department of Agriculture. Regulations for the application and enforcement of ss. 601.92-601.97, inclusive, shall be promulgated by the Department of Agriculture.
F.S. 601.98 Shipment, sale, or offer of imported citrus fruit or citrus products.
(1)
It is unlawful for any person to quote, offer for sale, sell, ship, or invoice in or from Florida any citrus fruit or the canned or concentrated products thereof grown and canned or concentrated in any other state or country other than Florida in such manner as to indicate in any form whatsoever that the citrus fruit or the canned or concentrated products thereof were produced and canned in Florida.
(2)
Every such person in Florida shall specifically advise and notify the buyer of any citrus fruit or the canned or concentrated product thereof produced and canned or concentrated in any state or country other than Florida which is being sold, quoted, offered for sale, or shipped to such buyer that the citrus fruit or the canned or concentrated products thereof were not produced in Florida; and the failure to so notify and advise such buyer will be construed as a violation of this section.
F.S. 601.99 Unlawful to misbrand wrappers or packages containing citrus fruit.
It is unlawful for any person to misbrand any package or any wrapper containing citrus fruits or any container of the canned or concentrated products thereof, and all citrus fruits and the canned or concentrated products thereof shall be deemed misbranded if the package or the wrapper or the container thereof shall bear any statement, design, or device regarding the fruit therein contained which is false or misleading either as to the name, size, quality, or brand of such fruit or the canned or concentrated products thereof or as to the locality in which it was grown.
F.S. 601.101 Ownership of rights under patent and trademark laws developed or acquired under this chapter.
Notwithstanding chapter 286, the legal title and every right, interest, claim, or demand of any kind in and to any patent, trademark, copyright, certification mark, or other right acquired under the patent and trademark laws of the United States, this state, or any foreign country, or the application therefor, or that is or may subsequently be owned or held, acquired, or developed by the department under this chapter, is vested in the department for the use, benefit, and purposes provided in this chapter. The department is vested with and may exercise any of the normal incidents of such ownership, including the receipt and disposition of royalties. Any sums received as royalties from any such rights are appropriated to the department for the purposes and uses provided in this chapter.
F.S. 601.111 Maturity standards; modification by emergency rule.
(1)
The Legislature finds that emergencies creating abnormal conditions in the state’s citrus industry, which may include, but are not limited to, unusual climatic conditions that produce unusual growing conditions of citrus fruit, freezes and hurricanes, or other acts of God that may affect a substantial part of the citrus industry, require that the department have the power and authority to modify the maturity standards established by rule for citrus fruit or any variety thereof.
(2)(a)
Upon the determination by the department that an emergency exists that creates abnormal conditions in the state’s citrus industry, the department, in addition to all other powers and authority provided by law, may adopt emergency rules pursuant to s. 120.54(4) that temporarily modify the maturity standards previously adopted by rule.
(b)
An emergency rule adopted under this subsection does not take effect unless the emergency rule is adopted by the affirmative vote of at least seven members of the commission. Notwithstanding the limitation on the effective period for emergency rules in s. 120.54(4)(c), each such emergency rule adopted under this section must contain an expiration date of not later than 1 year after its effective date.
(3)
This section does not repeal any other section or part of this chapter and shall be deemed as supplemental and additional to the express power vested in the department, subject only to the limitations, restrictions, conditions, provisions, and standards provided in this section.
F.S. 601.152 Special marketing orders.
(1)(a)
Whenever, upon its own motion or upon petition of any handler or producer or group or association of handlers or producers of citrus fruit, the commission, upon affirmative vote of seven of its members, determines:
1.
That the conduct of a special advertising and promotional marketing campaign or the conduct of market and product research and development, in addition to the advertising campaign being conducted pursuant to s. 601.15 and the research being conducted pursuant to the other provisions of the Florida Citrus Code, may substantially further increase the consumer acceptance and consumption of, and strengthen the market for, any type, variety, or form of citrus fruit or processed citrus product by further increasing the number of families buying such citrus fruit or such processed citrus product or by further increasing the quantity of such citrus fruit or processed citrus product purchased by buying families; and
2.
That such substantial further increase and strengthening may be of substantial benefit to handlers thereof, producers thereof, and to the economy and well-being of the state,
the commission shall direct that a proposed marketing order be formulated for a special marketing campaign of advertising and sales promotion, including, but not limited to, brand advertising rebate promotions or the conduct of market and product research and development for such type, variety, or form of citrus fruit or processed citrus product, and shall designate a public hearing to consider adoption and implementation of such proposed marketing order.
(b)
Notice of the time, place, and purpose of such public hearing shall be:
1.
Mailed, at least 10 days before such hearing, to each handler who, during the 12 months immediately before such mailing, has first handled in the primary channel of trade in the state the type, variety, and form of citrus fruit or citrus product specified in the proposed marketing order, and to each handler who the department has good cause to believe will, during the period of time covered by the proposed marketing order, first handle in the primary channel of trade in the state the type, variety, and form of citrus fruit or processed citrus product specified in such proposed marketing order.
2.
Published in the Florida Administrative Register at least 10 days before such hearing.
(c)
A full and complete record of all proceedings at such public hearing shall be made and filed by the department at its offices, which record, when signed by the chair of the commission and authenticated by the seal of the department, shall constitute prima facie evidence of such proceedings in all courts of this state.
(d)
Copies of the proposed marketing order shall be made available to the public at the offices of the department at least 5 days before such hearing and shall be in sufficient detail to apprise all persons having an interest therein of the approximate amount of moneys proposed to be expended; the assessments to be levied thereunder; and the general details of the proposed marketing order for a special marketing campaign of advertising or sales promotion or market or product research and development. Among the details so specified shall be the period of time during which the assessment imposed pursuant to subsection (8) will be levied upon the privilege so assessed, which period may not be greater than 2 years. The order may, however, provide that the expenditure of the funds received from the imposition of such assessments shall not be so confined but may be expended during such time or times as shall be specified in the proposed marketing order, which may be either during the shipping season immediately preceding the shipping seasons during which such assessments are imposed or during, or at any time subsequent to, the shipping seasons during which such assessments are imposed. This section does not prevent the imposition of a subsequent marketing order before, during, or after the expenditure of funds collected under a previously imposed marketing order, provided the aggregate of the assessments imposed may not exceed the maximum permitted under subsection (8).
(e)
A proposed marketing order shall specify the type, variety, and form of citrus fruit or processed citrus product to be covered by the order and whether it applies:
1.
To such citrus fruit or processed citrus product if it was so packed or processed from fruit first placed in the primary channel of trade in Florida during the period of time specified in the marketing order for the imposition of such assessments, or
2.
To such citrus fruit or processed citrus product if it was so packed, processed, or shipped in such type, variety, and form during the period of time specified in the marketing order for the imposition of such assessments.
(f)
If a marketing order provides for a brand advertising rebate promotion, the details specified shall include the requirements which must be met by the handler, broker, distributor, or grower in order to be eligible for rebate of advertising or promotional expenditures; the amount, or a method for computing the amount, rebatable; and the procedure for making rebates.
(g)
Any marketing order may provide that policy decisions with respect to details not specifically set forth in such marketing order may be made either by the commission upon its own motion or by the commission upon the recommendation of any handlers’ committee that may be established by the order. Otherwise such policy decisions shall be made by the commission.
(2)
After such notice and hearing, the commission shall determine whether or not implementation of the new special marketing order, as originally proposed or as amended at the public hearing, will substantially further increase the consumer acceptance and consumption of the citrus fruit or processed citrus product specified in such marketing order and that such substantial further increase in the consumer acceptance and consumption thereof will be of substantial benefit to the handlers and producers thereof and to the economy and well-being of the state. If the commission so determines and if it adopts a marketing order, the commission shall direct that such marketing order be subjected to a referendum of the handlers who have, during a representative period to be selected by the commission, handled in the primary channel of trade in Florida the type, variety, and form of citrus fruit or processed citrus product specified in such marketing order.
(3)
No marketing order adopted pursuant to this section shall be effective unless and until the commission, at a public meeting, determines such marketing order to have been assented to by referendum by at least 67 percent of the handlers covered by the marketing order who, during the representative period determined by the commission, first handled in the primary channel of trade in Florida not less than 51 percent of the total volume of the type, variety, and form of citrus fruit or processed citrus product specified in the marketing order.
(4)
The department may prescribe such procedures as it deems necessary properly to conduct a referendum among handlers covered by the marketing order to determine whether such marketing order has been so assented to.
(5)(a)
Any marketing order adopted under this section and subsequently approved by referendum as provided in this section shall take effect 15 days after referendum approval is officially determined by the commission. Chapter 120 does not apply to this section. Any such marketing order is reviewable by any person adversely affected, by certiorari to the district courts of appeal in the manner prescribed by the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure. The venue of the proceeding for such review shall be the appellate district that includes the county in which the hearings were conducted or, if the venue cannot be determined, the appellate district in which the department’s executive offices are located.
(b)
In cases in which certiorari is granted pursuant to this section, the court may issue its mandate or order with directions to the agency to enter in the proceedings as is appropriate on the record, or the court may remand the cause for such further proceedings, including the taking of testimony, as may to the court seem necessary or proper:
1.
To accord the parties due process of law;
2.
To establish a sufficient record for review;
3.
To accord the parties their constitutional, statutory, or procedural rights; or
4.
To accomplish the purposes and objectives of the law pursuant to which the administrative proceeding was initiated.
(6)
Any marketing order so implemented under this section may be amended subsequent to its implementation, provided such amendment has been formulated, published, subjected to public hearing, determined by the commission to meet the requirements set forth in the other subsections hereof, and assented to in the same manner and in accordance with all of the procedures and requirements set forth in this section for implementation of the original marketing order. Any such amendment may:
(a)
Terminate, extend, accelerate, or defer the conduct of the campaign.
(b)
Defer for one or more shipping seasons the imposition of assessments thereunder.
(c)
Extend by not more than 2 additional years the period of time during which the assessments imposed pursuant to subsection (8) may be levied upon the privilege so assessed.
(d)
Increase (subject to the maximum limitations imposed herein) or reduce the assessments or the amount of moneys to be expended.
(e)
Alter the general details of the campaign.
(f)
Otherwise amend the originally implemented marketing order.
(7)
For the purpose of carrying out any and all provisions of this section, the department, or its duly authorized or designated representative or representatives, may hold hearings, take testimony, and administer oaths. Copies of the proceedings, records, and acts of the department and the handlers’ committee, if any, established by the marketing order and certificates purporting to relate the facts concerning such proceedings, records, and acts signed by the chair of the commission and authenticated by the seal of the department shall be prima facie evidence thereof in all the courts of the state.
(8)(a)
Each person who, during the period specified in any marketing order implemented under this section, first handles in the primary channel of trade in the state any citrus fruit or processed citrus product of the type, variety, and form specified in such marketing order shall, for the privilege of so handling such citrus fruit or such citrus product, pay to the department such assessments as are levied and imposed thereon by such marketing order, which funds shall be used by the department to defray the necessary expenses incurred in the formation, issuance, administration, and enforcement of such marketing order and in the conduct of the special marketing campaign or market and product research and development provided for in such marketing order. However, such assessments levied and imposed under this section may not exceed 8 cents per standard-packed box on citrus fruits in fresh form, 1.3 cents per gallon on single strength citrus juices or sections, or 1.3 cents per pound of soluble citrus solids on concentrated citrus juices.
(b)
The department shall prescribe procedures for the assessment and collection of such funds to defray the necessary expenses incurred, or expected to be incurred, by the department in the formation, issuance, administration, and enforcement of any marketing order implemented under this section.
(c)
Every handler shall, at such times as the department may require, file with the department a return, not under oath, on forms to be prescribed and furnished by the department, certified as true and correct, stating the quantity of the type, variety, and form of citrus fruit or citrus product specified in the marketing order first handled in the primary channels of trade in the state by such handler during the period of time specified in the marketing order. Such returns must contain any further information deemed by the department to be reasonably necessary to properly administer or enforce this section or any marketing order implemented under this section.
(d)
All assessments imposed under this section are due and payable and shall be paid by such handlers at such times and in such installments as the commission prescribes in such marketing order, or the amount thereof shall be provided for and guaranteed by giving a surety bond or cash deposit or as the department otherwise prescribes.
(9)(a)
All moneys collected by the department under this section shall be set aside in the Florida Citrus Advertising Trust Fund as a special fund to be known as the “Citrus Special Marketing Order Fund.” All moneys in such fund, after deducting the service charge provided in s. 601.15(7), are appropriated to the department for the actual expenses incurred by the department for the formulation, issuance, administration, and enforcement of any marketing order so implemented and in the conduct of the special marketing campaign or market and product research and development to be carried out pursuant to any such marketing order so implemented. Upon the completion of the special marketing campaign or market and product research and development provided for pursuant to any marketing order so implemented, any and all moneys remaining and not required by the department to defray the expenses of such marketing order shall be deposited to and made a part of the Florida Citrus Advertising Trust Fund created by s. 601.15.
(b)
If the department finds it necessary, the department may transfer to the Citrus Special Marketing Order Fund from any other portion of the Florida Citrus Advertising Trust Fund, including the Emergency Reserve Fund and any other special or reserve fund, such sum of money as the department determines is initially required to formulate, issue, administer, and enforce any such marketing order and conduct the special marketing campaign or market and product research and development to be carried out pursuant to such marketing order until moneys in the Citrus Special Marketing Order Fund derived from assessments imposed and collected pursuant to this section are sufficient for such purposes and thereafter repay such advance out of the Citrus Special Marketing Order Fund.
(10)(a)
Any handler who fails to file a return or to pay any assessment within the time required shall thereby forfeit to the department a penalty of 5 percent of the amount of assessment then due, but the department, upon good cause shown, may waive all or any part of such penalty. Such penalty shall be paid to the department and disposed of as provided with respect to moneys derived from the assessments imposed under this section.
(b)
The department may collect the assessments imposed under this section by any of the following methods:
1.
The voluntary payment by the handler liable therefor.
2.
By a suit at law.
3.
By a suit in equity to enjoin and restrain any handler owing such assessments from operating his or her business or engaging in business as a citrus fruit dealer until the delinquent assessments are paid. Such action may include an accounting to determine the amount of assessments plus delinquencies due. In any such proceeding, it shall not be necessary to allege or prove that an adequate remedy at law does not exist.
(11)
This section shall be liberally construed to effectuate the purposes set forth and as additional and supplemental powers vested in the department under the police power of this state.
F.S. 601.155 Equalizing assessment; credit; exemption.
(1)
The first person who exercises in this state the privilege of processing, reprocessing, blending, or mixing processed orange products or processed grapefruit products or the privilege of packaging or repackaging processed orange products or processed grapefruit products into retail or institutional size containers or, except as provided in subsection (9) or except if an assessment is levied and collected on the exercise of one of the foregoing privileges, the first person having title to or possession of any processed orange product or any processed grapefruit product who exercises the privilege in this state of storing such product or removing any portion of such product from the original container in which it arrived in this state for purposes other than official inspection or direct consumption by the consumer and not for resale shall be assessed and shall pay an assessment upon the exercise of such privilege at the rate described in subsection (2).
(2)
Upon the exercise of any privilege described in subsection (1), the assessment levied by this section shall be at the same rate per box of oranges or grapefruit utilized in the initial production of the processed citrus products so handled as that imposed, at the time of exercise of the assessable privilege, by s. 601.15 per box of oranges.
(3)
For the purposes of this section, the number of boxes of oranges or grapefruit utilized in the initial production of processed citrus products subject to the assessable privilege shall be:
(a)
The actual number of boxes so utilized, if known and verified in accordance with department rules; or
(b)
An equivalent number established by department rule which, on the basis of existing data, reasonably equates to the quantity of citrus contained in the product, when the actual number of boxes so utilized is not known or properly verified.
(4)
For purposes of this section:
(a)
“Processed orange products” means products for human consumption consisting of 20 percent or more single strength equivalent orange juice; orange sections, segments, or edible components; or whole peeled fruit.
(b)
“Processed grapefruit products” means products for human consumption consisting of 20 percent or more single strength equivalent grapefruit juice; grapefruit sections, segments, or edible components; or whole peeled fruit.
(c)
“Original container” includes any vessel, tanker or tank car, or other transport vehicle.
(d)
“Retail or institutional container” means a container having a capacity of 10 gallons or less.
(5)
Products made in whole or in part from citrus fruit on which an equivalent assessment is levied pursuant to s. 601.15 are exempt from the assessment imposed by this section. In the case of products made in part from citrus fruit exempt from the assessment imposed by this section, it shall be the burden of the persons liable for the assessment to show the department, through competent evidence, proof of that part which is not subject to an assessable privilege.
(6)
Every person liable for the assessment imposed by this section shall keep a complete and accurate record of the receipt, storage, handling, exercise of any assessable privilege under this section, and shipment of all products subject to the assessment imposed by this section. Such record shall be preserved for a period of 1 year and shall be offered for inspection upon oral or written request by the department or its duly authorized agent.
(7)
Every person liable for the assessment imposed by this section shall, at such times and in such manner as the department may by rule require, file with the department a return, certified as true and correct, on forms to be prescribed and furnished by the department, stating, in addition to other information reasonably required by the department, the number of units of processed orange or grapefruit products subject to this section upon which any assessable privilege under this section was exercised during the period of time covered by the return. Full payment of assessments due for the period reported shall accompany each return.
(8)
All assessments levied and imposed by this section shall be due and payable within 61 days after the first of the assessable privileges is exercised in this state. Periodic payment of the assessments imposed by this section by the person first exercising the assessable privileges and liable for such payment shall be permitted only in accordance with department rules, and the payment thereof shall be guaranteed by the posting of an appropriate certificate of deposit, approved surety bond, letter of credit from an issuing financial institution located in the United States, or cash deposit in an amount and manner as prescribed by the department.
(9)
When any processed orange or grapefruit product is stored or removed from its original container as provided in subsection (1), the equalizing assessment is levied on such storage or removal, and such product is subsequently shipped out of the state in a vessel, tanker or tank car, or container having a capacity greater than 10 gallons, the person who is liable for the assessment shall be entitled to an assessment refund, if such assessment has been paid, or to an assessment credit, provided she or he can provide satisfactory proof that such product has been shipped out of the state and that no privilege assessable under subsection (1) other than storage or removal from the original container was exercised before such shipment out of the state.
(10)
Notwithstanding any provision of law, the department shall develop a process by which any person liable for the assessment imposed under this section may annually object to payment of the assessment. Any such objection must be allowed without discretion as to the validity thereof, and that person shall be granted the immediate right to elect not to pay two-thirds of the applicable assessment. The department may not expend any of the remaining one-third of the applicable assessment on any advertising, marketing, or public relations activities to which any person liable for the assessment imposed under this section objects; however, such funds may be used for research, administrative, and regulatory activities. Effective July 1, 2004, upon any necessary legislative appropriation of moneys due under the settlement agreement of Consolidated Case No. 2002-CA-4686 in the Circuit Court of the Tenth Judicial Circuit in Polk County, the plaintiffs shall agree to the dismissal of their claim under the foreign commerce clause with prejudice.
(11)
All assessments levied and collected under this section, including penalties, shall be paid into the State Treasury to be made a part of the Florida Citrus Advertising Trust Fund in the same manner, for the same purposes, and in the same proportions as set forth in s. 601.15(7). Any person failing to file a return or pay any assessment within the time required shall thereby forfeit to the department a penalty of 5 percent of the amount of assessment then due, but the department, on good cause shown, may waive all or any part of such penalty.
(12)
This section shall be liberally construed to effectuate the purposes set forth and as additional and supplemental powers vested in the department under the police power of this state.
F.S. 601.281 Road guard fees.
There is hereby levied upon all citrus fruit upon which inspection fees are imposed by s. 601.28 an additional fee in the amount of 1 mill per standard-packed box or the equivalent thereof. This additional fee shall be collected at the same time and in the same manner as citrus inspection fees imposed by s. 601.28. All fees levied and collected under the provisions of this section shall be paid into the State Treasury on or before the 15th day of each month. Such money shall be deposited in the General Inspection Trust Fund and is hereby appropriated to the Department of Agriculture to defray that portion of the cost of operating road guard stations that is attributable to the services performed by the road guard stations with respect to citrus fruit. All such money not required to defray that portion of such costs shall be deposited in the Citrus Inspection Trust Fund and is hereby appropriated in the manner provided by s. 601.28(3)(b).
F.S. 601.461 Falsification of weights; penalty.
(1)
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, association, or corporation to falsify or alter any certificate, slip, or other document evidencing or pretending to evidence the weight of citrus fruit bought by weight or knowingly to make, utter, or deliver any such certificate, slip, or document which shall be false or to counsel, assist in, or procure any such act.
(2)
Any person, firm, association, or corporation convicted of the violation of any provision of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
F.S. 601.471 Definition of “canned or concentrated citrus fruit products” expanded.
The term “canned or concentrated citrus fruit products” when used in ss. 601.48-601.54 shall include chilled citrus juice, chilled citrus sections, or otherwise processed products of citrus fruit.
F.S. 601.501 Charitable shipments exempt from assessments.
Shipments of citrus fruit when permitted under s. 601.50 for charitable purposes are exempt from all advertising assessments.
F.S. 601.601 Registration of dealers’ agents.
Each licensed citrus fruit dealer shall:
(1)
Register with the Department of Agriculture each agent as defined in s. 601.03 who is authorized to represent such dealer; apply for registration of such agent or agents on a form approved by the Department of Agriculture and filed with the Department of Agriculture at least 5 days before the active participation of the agent or agents on behalf of such dealer in any transaction described in s. 601.03; and be held fully liable for and legally bound by all contracts and agreements, verbal or written, involving the consignment, purchase, or sale of citrus fruit executed by a duly registered agent on the dealer’s behalf during the entire period of valid registration of such agent the same as though such contracts or agreements were executed by the dealer. Registration of each agent shall be for the entire shipping season for which the applying dealer’s license is issued; however, a licensed dealer may cancel the registration of any agent registered by her or him by returning the agent’s identification card to the Department of Agriculture and giving formal written notice to the Department of Agriculture of at least 10 days. In addition, such dealer shall make every effort to alert the public to the fact that the agent is no longer authorized to represent her or him. An agent may be registered by more than one licensed dealer for the same shipping season, provided that each licensed dealer applies individually for registration of the agent and further provided that written consent is given by each and every dealer under whose license the agent has valid prior registration.
(2)
When the requirements of subsection (1) and such additional requirements set forth by rules adopted by the Department of Citrus for registration of an agent are met and the fee required by s. 601.59(2) is paid, the Department of Agriculture shall duly register the agent and issue an identification card certifying such registration. The identification card, among other things, shall show in a prominent manner:
(a)
The name and address of the agent.
(b)
The authorizing dealer’s name, address, and license number.
(c)
The effective date and season for which registration is made.
(d)1.
A space for signature of the agent.
2.
A space to be countersigned by the licensed dealer.
3.
A statement providing that the card is not valid unless so signed and countersigned.
The department may periodically adopt, as necessary, additional requirements or conditions relating to the registration of agents.
F.S. 601.611 Applicable law in event ch. 61-389 held invalid.
If any of the provisions of s. 601.61 be held unconstitutional or invalid for any reason by any court of competent jurisdiction, or if any such court shall find or declare that no applicant shall be required to furnish the bond required by this act, then and in that event this entire act, including s. 5 thereof, shall be ineffective for any and all purposes, and the Laws of Florida in effect on August 1, 1961, which are amended or repealed by this act shall not be deemed to be amended or repealed by this act but shall instead remain in full force and effect, it being the intention of the Legislature that in that event this entire act shall be ineffective for any and all purposes and the Laws of Florida in effect on August 1, 1961, including chapter 61-45, which are amended or repealed by this act shall not be deemed to be amended or repealed by this act but shall instead remain in full force and effect.
F.S. 601.641 Fraudulent representations, penalties.
(1)
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, association, or corporation to claim or represent to be a licensed citrus fruit dealer, licensed and bonded citrus dealer, or agent of a licensed citrus fruit dealer unless such person, firm, association, or corporation is licensed, licensed and bonded, or a registered agent of a licensed citrus fruit dealer under the Laws of Florida.
(2)
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, association, or corporation to advertise or in any way represent falsely as to her or his status as a seller of citrus fruit, to make any false claim as to the status of such seller of citrus fruit, or to make any false claim as to the condition, grade, quality, quantity, grove origin, or producer’s name and address of any citrus fruit sold by any such person, firm, association, or corporation.
(3)
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, association, or corporation licensed under this chapter to advertise or to use on her or his letterhead, or on any advertising material, or in any way pretend to be a bonded shipper unless said person, firm, association, or corporation has filed and had approved a performance bond in addition to the bond required under this chapter.
(4)
This section is supplemental, making provisions in addition to any other provisions of law and shall be construed liberally.
(5)
Any person, firm, association, or corporation violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. Such criminal penalties shall be in addition to any other penalties provided by law. If the violator be a licensed citrus fruit dealer, then such license may be revoked or suspended in the manner provided by s. 601.67.
F.S. 601.671 Appropriation of fines collected.
All fines imposed and collected by the Department of Agriculture under the provisions of this chapter are hereby appropriated in the manner provided by s. 601.28(3)(b).
F.S. 601.701 Penalty for failure to keep records.
(1)
It is unlawful to fail to keep any records required to be kept under the Florida Citrus Code or required to be kept by any other law or by any rule adopted by the Department of Agriculture or the Department of Citrus, or to falsify or cause the falsification of any such records or to keep false records.
(2)
The violation of any of the provisions of this act shall constitute a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
F.S. 601.731 Transporting citrus on highways; name and dealer designation on vehicles; load identification; penalty.
(1)(a)
It is unlawful to operate any truck, tractor, trailer, or other motor vehicle hauling citrus fruit in bulk or in unclosed containers for commercial purposes on the highways of this state unless such truck, tractor, trailer, or other motor vehicle is:
1.
Designated by a number assigned or permitted for use in the way and manner and to the extent prescribed by department rule.
2.
Identified by lettering plainly showing the name of the person owning same, or the name of any lessee or other person operating same. The lettering shall not be less than 3 inches in height on both sides of the vehicle or on the front end and the rear end of the vehicle, except that lettering on flatbed semitrailers shall not be less than 1
1
/
2
inches in height on the rear end of the trailer.
(b)
If the truck, tractor, trailer, or other motor vehicle is owned by a licensed fruit dealer under this chapter, there shall also appear, except on the rear end of a flatbed semitrailer or similar truck trailer, the words “Licensed Citrus Fruit Dealer” by lettering of not less than 3 inches minimum in height under the name of the owner of such vehicle. When both a tractor and trailer or when two units are used in the operation of hauling, both of such units shall be so marked.
(c)
The designations aforesaid shall be painted or affixed by decal upon the vehicle or units so as to be of a permanent character, except that where vehicles are leased for a period of not more than 30 days, it shall be sufficient if the designations provided in paragraphs (a) and (b) are clearly legible and affixed by temporary means.
(d)
A motor vehicle which is not so marked that is so hauling such citrus fruit on the highways of this state shall prima facie be considered to be hauling commercial fruit with intent to violate this section. The provisions of this subsection do not apply to any such fruit being hauled from the farm or grove by the producer of such fruit in her or his own vehicle to market or place of first commercial handling unless such producer is also a licensed citrus fruit dealer.
(2)
Any person driving any truck, tractor, trailer, or other motor vehicle hauling citrus fruit in bulk or in unclosed containers for commercial purposes on the highways of the state must have on her or his person while driving such vehicle a certificate or other paper showing the approximate amount of fruit being hauled; the name of the owner and the grove or other origin of such fruit; the number painted or affixed by decal, as well as the number of the motor vehicle license tag, on the vehicle in which such fruit is being hauled; and such other information and data as may be prescribed by department rule, and it is unlawful to drive any such vehicle on the highways of this state without having such certificate or other paper. The failure of any such person to have such certificate or other paper on her or his person while driving such vehicle is prima facie evidence of intent to violate and of the violation of this section.
(3)(a)
A person who violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions of subsection (1) is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(b)
A person who violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions of subsection (2) is, upon the first conviction, guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, and upon any subsequent conviction, guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
F.S. 601.992 Collection of dues and other payments on behalf of certain nonprofit corporations engaged in market news and grower education.
The Department of Citrus or the Department of Agriculture or their successors may collect or compel the entities regulated by the Department of Citrus to collect dues, contributions, or any other financial payment upon request by, and on behalf of, any not-for-profit corporation and its related not-for-profit corporations located in this state that receive payments or dues from their members. Such not-for-profit corporation must be engaged, to the exclusion of agricultural commodities other than citrus, in market news and grower education solely for citrus growers and must have at least 2,500 members who are engaged in growing citrus in this state for commercial sale. The Department of Citrus may adopt rules to administer this section. The rules may establish indemnity requirements for the requesting corporation and for fees to be charged to the corporation that are sufficient but do not exceed the amount necessary to ensure that any direct costs incurred by the Department of Citrus in implementing this section are borne by the requesting corporation and not by the Department of Citrus.
F.S. 601.9901 Certificates of inspection; form.
All certificates of inspection prescribed by this chapter shall be of such number, form, size, and character as the department may by rule prescribe and shall be used in such manner as to identify the fruit or the canned or concentrated products thereof to which they relate.
F.S. 601.9902 Payment of salaries and expenses; Department of Citrus.
All salaries, costs, and expenses incurred by the department in the administration and enforcement of this chapter and in the performance of the department’s duties and the exercise of its powers under the laws of this state shall be proratably paid from the moneys derived from the citrus advertising assessments imposed on the various types of citrus fruit in such proportion as the department may find each respective type affected by such expenditures.
F.S. 601.9903 Annual report of Department of Citrus.
The department shall submit an annual report to the Governor concerning the work of the department. The department shall also submit such special reports concerning any phase of the department’s work as may be requested by the Governor or the Legislature or either house thereof.
F.S. 601.9904 Frozen citrus juices; rules of Department of Citrus.
The department shall adopt and enforce rules concerning the contents, preparation, concentrating, other processing, and keeping or storing of frozen concentrated fresh citrus juices, and such rules may govern, but are not limited to, the sanitary conditions under which such product is prepared, the type of equipment and machinery used therein, the manner and method of storage within this state, and the manner and method of shipment.
F.S. 601.9908 Canned tangerine juice; standards; labeling.
No canned tangerine juice shall be sold or offered for sale or shipped or offered for shipment which:
(1)
Is prepared from raw juice containing before the addition of any additive less than 9 percent total soluble solids;
(2)
When canned, contains less than 10 percent total soluble solids; or
(3)
Has a ratio of total soluble solids to anhydrous citric acid of less than 9 to 1;
(4)
Contains less than 0.55 percent or more than 1.60 percent anhydrous citric acid;
(5)
Contains more than 0.050 percent recoverable oil; or
(6)
Does not meet requirements to be established by the department regarding color, absence of defects, taste, and flavor; unless the immediate container thereof shall be labeled in accordance with regulations of the department and there shall appear on such label the word “substandard” in bold type not less than
1
/
4
inch high printed or stamped diagonally thereon.
F.S. 601.9910 Legislative findings of fact; strict enforcement of maturity standard in public interest.
(1)
FINDINGS.
—
(a)
The Legislature finds and determines and so declares that, for many years past, the shipment of raw, immature citrus fruit, generally designated as “green fruit,” from the state to consuming markets has caused the loss of millions of dollars to the citrus growers of Florida; also has resulted in the lowering of the standard of living of many of its citizens; adversely affected the economic conditions of the entire state; reduced the receipts in the collection of ad valorem taxes, thereby reducing revenue needed by counties and cities; caused financial loss to the growers and shippers and processors who did not engage in the shipment of green fruit; and that such practice each year hurts the good name and reputation of all Florida citrus.
(b)
The Legislature, after extensive hearings conducted annually, and after many hearings attended by its citrus committees at various citrus industry meetings throughout the citrus area; and after having had the advice and counsel of the best qualified and most expert technical advisers in the Florida citrus industry, and after having had the benefit of the advice of some of the most expert and best informed growers, shippers, and processors, and after having made a careful study of the reaction of all citrus fruits by reason of changes in climatic conditions, and having found that regardless of the color of an orange or the color of a grapefruit or regardless of the juice content of such fruit, finds such fruit may be immature and unfit for human consumption. It is also recognized by experts that there are certain factors entering into the maturity of fruit which are not now measurable by chemical tests. There is a change brought about by time and nature in the blending of solids and acids into juice which characterizes maturity but not in a manner susceptible to chemical determination. Because of this, it is scientifically sound that the minimum requirements for solids and the ratio of solids to anhydrous citric acid in determining maturity be relaxed as the season progresses and the raw, immature flavor characteristic of fruit early in the season has disappeared through the workings of time and nature. Therefore, the Legislature hereby finds and determines and so declares that, until nature has completed its process of removing the raw, immature flavor, such citrus fruit will still be immature and unfit for human consumption and, when marketed, will result in dissatisfied consumers who will cease purchasing Florida citrus for some time and will classify that fruit which they had purchased as “Florida green fruit.”
(c)
The Legislature finds and determines and so declares that there is no better method of determining when such raw and immature flavor leaves Florida citrus than by the standards authorized by this chapter and set forth in department rule; that experience has demonstrated over a period of many years, by the best available records and under various climatic conditions and various seasonal changes, that generally speaking, before November 1 of each season, oranges that do not have a total soluble solids of 9 percent with a minimum ratio of total soluble solids, as set forth in department rule, still have a raw, immature flavor; that beginning on or about November 1 of each season, such raw, immature fruit flavor gradually disappears from the orange, and by November 15 the same orange may have a still lower soluble solids percentage and not be immature; that after November 15 the same orange can still have a further lower soluble solids percentage without being immature; and that by December 1 nature has completed its process of removing the raw, immature flavor that might have existed before that time, provided such fruit meets the other minimum maturity requirements authorized by this chapter and set forth in department rule. On December 1 oranges meeting the requirements set forth in department rule, while not being sufficiently mature to ship in fresh form, may be safely used in some processed products without the finished product having a raw, immature flavor. On December 1 grapefruit meeting the requirements set forth in department rule, while not being sufficiently mature to ship in fresh form, may be safely used in some processed products without the finished product having a raw, immature flavor.
(d)
The Legislature finds and determines and so declares that the enforcement of the maturity standards, authorized by this chapter and set forth in department rule, will not result in preventing any grower from marketing her or his fruit at some time during the marketing season, whenever nature has removed the raw, immature flavor, and if there is a delay in such marketing, it will result in higher prices for the entire season, bringing additional millions of dollars to the state’s growers and resulting in benefit to all growers, including the grower or growers who were delayed a short time in the shipment of their fruit.
(2)
DECLARATION.
—
Therefore, the Legislature declares that the strict enforcement of the maturity standards authorized by this chapter and set forth in department rule is definitely in the public’s interest and for the public’s welfare and that no citrus that has a raw, immature flavor and that could be classed by the consuming public as “Florida green fruit” should be shipped from the state and sold in consuming markets.
(3)
RULES SETTING FORTH MATURITY STANDARDS FOR HYBRIDS.
—
The Legislature finds and determines that the classifications of and maturity standards for citrus hybrids should be established by rules adopted by the department pursuant to this chapter.
F.S. 601.9911 Fruit may be sold or transported direct from producer.
Any citrus producer may transport her or his own citrus fruit or any citrus fruit may be sold or purchased and transported in interstate or intrastate commerce in truckload lots direct from a producer, and any such fruit so sold, purchased, or transported need not be processed, handled by any packinghouse, washed, polished, graded, stamped, labeled, branded, placed in containers, or otherwise prepared for market as provided in this chapter. Such fruit shall be certified at the time of inspection as tree run grade of fruit but shall otherwise remain subject to the maturity standards and all other conditions, restrictions, emergency quality assurance orders, and other requirements of this chapter and shall be inspected for such compliance as all other fruit is inspected at such convenient locations as may be determined by the Department of Agriculture. Any such fruit violating any provision of this chapter, or any rule adopted by the department under this chapter, but not inconsistent with this section, may be seized, condemned, and destroyed as provided in this chapter. At the time of such inspection, all fees and assessments provided in this chapter shall be paid and collected at the same rate as paid by all other fresh fruit growers or shippers.
F.S. 601.9912 Penalties.
Any person violating any provisions of this chapter or of the rules or regulations of the Department of Citrus or the Department of Agriculture shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
F.S. 601.9918 Rules related to issuance and use of symbols.
In rules related to the issuance and voluntary use of symbols, certification marks, service marks, or trademarks, the commission may make general references to national or state requirements that the license applicant would be compelled to meet regardless of the department’s issuance of the license applied for.
F.S. 601.99035 Annual travel report of Department of Citrus.
The department shall, at the end of each fiscal year, publish an annual travel report that states, for each department staff member and each commission member who has traveled during that year, the name of the person, the person’s position title, the date on which a claim for reimbursement was submitted, the dates of travel, the destinations, the purpose of the travel, and all expenditures that resulted from the travel.
F.S. 601.99036 Approval of specified salary changes.
Any change in the annual salary of an employee of the department who earns $100,000 or more must be approved by a majority of the commission before the salary adjustment is made.
Source: FL Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/Chapter601/AllFetched: 7/8/2026