Source: Tampa Bay Business Journal

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has leased 9,000 square feet of space in Haines City, from which it will operate its Citrus Health Response Program, a joint program administered by the USDA and Florida Department of Agriculture.

The Haines City office, located at 306 S. 10th St., replaces the USDA's three-person Bartow office where the agency has been located since May 2001.

"The move to the Haines City area is in response to a shift from residential and grove inspections to packing house inspections for citrus canker," says Michael Hornyak, director of the Citrus Health Response Program.

When fully staffed next spring, Hornyak expects the work force to total 30.

Statewide, the USDA has 235 Citrus Health Response Program employees.

link: http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/2007/12/10/daily17.html