[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 90 (Tuesday, June 18, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1104]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




THE IMPORTANCE OF CITRUS TRISTEZA VIRUS RESEARCH TO THE FLORIDA CITRUS 
                               COMMUNITY

                                 ______


                         HON. CHARLES T. CANADY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 18, 1996

  Mr. CANADY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, citrus is a major food crop in 
terms of nutrition, generation of income, foreign exchange, and 
employment in the United States.
  There are approximately 1.2 million acres of citrus in the United 
States, and the annual retail value is over $17 billion. The citrus 
industry in the United States exceeds $19 billion in gross revenue.
  Florida has 850,000 acres in citrus groves, 70,000 people employed in 
the citrus industry and 74,000 people employed indirectly, which means 
on-tree revenues of $9 billion to Florida.
  Citrus is the No. 1 fresh produce commodity grown in California and 
Florida and there is substantial acreage in Arizona, Louisiana and 
Texas. Hawaii and Puerto Rico are also increasing their citrus industry 
to reduce their dependence on imports.
  The American citrus industry produces table quality navel and 
Valencia oranges, and my home State of Florida, grows oranges for fresh 
juice and juice concentrate. Florida is also one of the world leaders 
in export quality oranges, lemons and grapefruit.
  Unfortunately, this vital industry is being threatened by the brown 
citrus aphid, which is the most efficient transmitter of the citrus 
tristeza virus. This virus threatens the entire U.S. crop.
  Arizona, California, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas have formed a 
research council to study the eradication of the brown citrus aphid and 
the citrus tristeza virus. This research is supported by the industry, 
the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the land grant colleges.
  The farm bill, which the Congress passed earlier this year also, 
recognized the importance of eradicating this disease before it takes 
over and destroys the American citrus crop. The legislation authorized 
$3 million to be spent on Citrus Tristeza Virus research.
  Mr. Speaker it is extremely important for us to supply the 1997 
funding needed to carry out this research and keep out citrus industry 
healthy in Florida and elsewhere in the United States.

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