Recently, CCM President Casey Creamer traveled to D.C. to meet with USDA staff about issues affecting the citrus industry. While there, he met with USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to advocate for an increase in federal funding through the Citrus Health Response Program (CHRP) for California. CHRP conducts multi-pest surveys in commercial and residential citrus areas to identify early infestations of exotic citrus pests for eradication and ensures that quarantine boundaries accurately reflect infested areas. Through discussions with APHIS, it looks likely that California will receive additional funds through CHRP. This funding will assist in our fight to stop the spread of ACP and HLB.
During his time in D.C. Creamer also attended a meeting for USDA’s Agriculture Technical Advisory Committee (ATAC) for Trade in Fruits and Vegetables. The committee met with USDA Secretary Vilsack and Trade Undersecretary Alexis Taylor about the many issues affecting citrus and the broader produce industry.
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