Time has affected the Florida citrus industry in different ways over the past year, according to Steve Johnson, Chairman of the Florida Citrus Commission. Reflecting on the period since Hurricane Milton, Johnson noted the varied perspectives among those involved. “Some might say, ‘Wow, can’t believe it’s only been a year since Hurricane Milton, so much has happened.’ Others might marvel at how quickly time has passed, saying something like, ‘I can’t believe it’s been a year already.’ No matter what camp you sit in, however, there’s one thing you can’t deny: how we’ve worked together to make good use of our time these last few months has given the Florida citrus industry some good momentum going into this season.”
Johnson emphasized that the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) has kept pace with the industry’s progress. He highlighted recent activities, including a new partnership between Florida Orange Juice and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Johnson stated, “We’ve been busy these last few months, not just in launching the new partnership I talked about in my last column between Florida Orange Juice and the Tampa Bay Lightning, but in all facets and areas of vital importance to the industry.”
He encouraged stakeholders to attend the upcoming Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) meeting scheduled for Wednesday, October 22, at 9:00 a.m. at the Bartow headquarters.
Johnson serves as Chairman of the Florida Citrus Commission, which oversees the FDOC. He is also the owner and general manager of Johnson Harvesting, Inc., based in Wauchula, Florida.
