I assume the ban on shipping citrus from Florida means we cannot bring any for the competition.

I think its ok to bring the fruit out of Florida.. its the citrus trees that the USDA is concerned with. Maybe some other readers on here can correct me if Im wrong.. I know Florida is shipping citrus fruit out of state on a daily basis.

Technically, I believe the requirement is that the fruit needs to be processed by an approved packing house. The regulations can be found here.

http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/canker/index.html

I would ask the folks there what you should do. I have found the Florida and USDA folks to be very helpful when asked such questions. There is a contact link at the Florida site, and I imagine at the USDA site. It would be ashamed if the Florida folks could not bring their fruit.

Skeeter or some of the other Florida folks might already know the answer to the question.

Please share any answers you get.


Ned

This pretty much pins it down. It was taken from here:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/plant_health/content/printable_version/faq_citrus_fruit.pdf

"Q. Can homeowners ship backyard citrus interstate?
A. Under the final rule, homeowners have the same
opportunity to ship citrus interstate as commercial
producers. Homeowners need to meet the same
requirements as producers, including having their citrus
treated, packed, and inspected at a packinghouse
that has entered a compliance agreement with APHIS.
The citrus must be shipped in an appropriately marked
box."

Ned

This pretty much excludes any Florida member from bringing fruit to the competition, unless they want to go through all the packing house trouble as stated in Ned's posting. Lastly, the competition committee would also have to change the rules, concerning any fruit being placed into competition, must have a piece of stem and leaves attached. The foliage (stem and leaves) would never be allowed to be shipped out of Florida - Millet

That is a good point about the leaves & stem Millet.

Ned

That I believe is correct as to the rules. There must be a piece of the branch and leaves still attached.

Quote:

4. Fruit must contain at least ½ inch of stem attached; one fruit should have a leaf attached to the stem.

I guess I'll just have to make more marmalade out of the limequats.