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Florida grapefruit sales in South Korea spike thanks to … cocktails?

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Hats off to the Florida Department of Agriculture for successfully pimping out Florida grapefruits to South Korea. According to the department, Florida grapefruit sales to South Korea jumped to a historic high of nearly $5 million last year, representing a 44 percent increase from 2013. Now this isn’t necessarily because South Koreans are citrus-hungry and health-savvy, it’s because they like grapefruit-flavored booze. Part of the increase in grapefruit sales to South Korea is attributed to a partnership in the country…

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Rewind to 2013: Proposed House bill would allow adjacent landowners to acquire state land

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A proposed House committee bill being considered Thursday would require state park managers to allow “low-impact agriculture” on parks and allow adjacent landowners to acquire state land. The House State Affairs Committee, meeting at 1 p.m. today, will consider proposed committee bill SAC 15-02. In 2013, HB 33 by state Rep. Jimmie T. Smith, a Republican from Lecanto, also would have allowed an individual or corporate landowner to acquire state land by asking the Cabinet to approve a swap for…

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Is the environment screwed in the House allocations? Maybe, but we don’t know yet

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Wasn’t the environment supposed to get more money under Amendment 1 — not less? Is this the old Lottery-style switcharoo? Those are obvious questions to be asking after the House issued the general revenue allocation on Friday for the 2015-16 state budget. Agriculture and natural resources spending appeared to be taking a hit — at least compared to last year’s allocation. Last year the allocation was $467.8 million for the agriculture and natural resources and a portion of general government. This year the allocation…

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Beekeepers, stung by 2014 veto, try again for research site

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Florida’s beekeepers say honey bees play a sweet role in agriculture and the economy but they need help — and state funding — to maintain a healthy population. The Florida State Beekeepers Association is requesting $3.5 million for an apiary research center at the University of Florida. Florida is the third largest honey-producing state, with a reported crop value of $22.7 million in 2013, according to the university. The state has about 3,500 beekeepers now compared with 1,200 a decade…

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Shocker: Associated Industries backs Jeff Atwater for CFO and Adam Putnam for Agriculture

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Associated Industries of Florida Political Action Committee (AIFPAC) today announced its endorsement of Congressman Adam Putnam (R), candidate for Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and Senate President Jeff Atwater (R), candidate for Chief Financial Officer, in the General Election to be held on November 2, 2010. “These candidates have a longstanding relationship with AIF and their leadership is exactly what we need as we elect a new Cabinet.  Congressman Putnam and Sen. Atwater both understand the important role business…

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Scott Maddox will run for Ag Commish

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Former Florida Democratic Party Chairman Scott Maddox will file paperwork to enter the agriculture commissioner race next week, ending a four-year break from politics. Maddox, who said he lived on a small farm when growing up south of Miami and whose wife comes from a family that’s farmed for generations, said he will emphasize the consumer services aspect of the job. “That’s a very important position for Floridians. That job basically regulates most all the things that affect the consumer…

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