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Category: failure

2020: $13 million for Bayer. 2022: Zero results

Two years ago, CRDF “and others” had “previously” paid Bayer $12.6 million, plus another “$421,000 each,” amounting to well over $13 million for the German multinational to help Florida solve citrus greening. Of that $12.6 million, the vast bulk came from CRDF. Today: Zero results,Continue Reading2020: $13 million for Bayer. 2022: Zero results

CRDF switches course again to ‘force’ itself ‘to be laser-focused’ on ‘near-term results’

Faced with accelerated crop destruction after its decision to pour millions into long-term solutions to HLB/citrus greening, the Citrus Research and Development Foundation reversed course to “force” itself “to be laser-focused” on “near-term results,” Citrus Industry reports. CRDF’s decision confirms what Save Citrus has beenContinue ReadingCRDF switches course again to ‘force’ itself ‘to be laser-focused’ on ‘near-term results’

Radio ads to growers: It’s not ‘skin in the game.’ You’re being skinned alive

Radio ads across Florida’s citrus-growing regions are telling growers that they’re not putting their “skin in the game” by extending the mechanism to tax them to fund CRDF. CRDF has nothing to show for the $180,000,000 it has spent so far against HLB/citrus greening GrowersContinue ReadingRadio ads to growers: It’s not ‘skin in the game.’ You’re being skinned alive

CRDF’s COO admits that Florida citrus growers are ‘frustrated’ with work on his watch

CRDF’s chief operating officer Rick Dantzler admits that Florida citrus growers “are frustrated with CRDF” but urges them to vote to continue the mechanism to assess taxes on them to fund his organization just the same. “When deciding how you vote on whether to continueContinue ReadingCRDF’s COO admits that Florida citrus growers are ‘frustrated’ with work on his watch

Dantzler urges growers to vote to save mechanism for assessing ‘box tax’

In what he called an “important clarification” to a SaveCitrus statement, CRDF’s Rick Dantzler urged growers to save the mechanism that assesses the ‘box tax’ which funds Dantzler’s operation. Dantzler’s statement appeared in Citrus Industry on May 25, two days after SaveCitrus announced an effortContinue ReadingDantzler urges growers to vote to save mechanism for assessing ‘box tax’

Citrus coalition urges growers to vote against ‘box tax’

Growers are demanding accountability for $180 million spent on research that hasn’t found a solution to citrus greening, Center Square Florida reports. “Florida citrus growers are pushing back against a tax they’ve been paying to fund research they argue hasn’t, and doesn’t, benefit them. OverContinue ReadingCitrus coalition urges growers to vote against ‘box tax’

Citrus coalition targets state-sponsored research cartel; demands answers for $180 million and pledges ‘no more’

St. Petersburg, FL –Save Citrus, a new coalition of citrus growers and industry partners, launched the first in a series of educational radio ads aimed at fellow growers. This ad focuses on a state-sponsored referendum on whether to continue the mechanism to tax growers toContinue ReadingCitrus coalition targets state-sponsored research cartel; demands answers for $180 million and pledges ‘no more’

Growers voice concern that CRDF does not ‘allow growers to make decisions’

Growers voiced concern at the April 26 CRDF board meeting that the foundation under Rick Dantzler has not allowed citrus growers to make decisions to save their dying industry. “Pam Fentress of Lost Lake Groves said growers are anxious to learn of the Board’s plansContinue ReadingGrowers voice concern that CRDF does not ‘allow growers to make decisions’

Dantzler says he really has a plan and isn’t ‘simply chasing the latest shiny thing’

As if reviewing the CRDF’s 13 years of failures – including a wasteful bid to fund Monsanto-Bayer to create genetically modified citrus trees – COO Rick Dantzler assures growers that he really does have a strategy and isn’t “simply chasing the latest shiny thing.” WritingContinue ReadingDantzler says he really has a plan and isn’t ‘simply chasing the latest shiny thing’

CRDF’s Dantzler chronicles the wreckage of Florida Citrus since 2009

CRDF leader Rick Dantzler’s tally of the destruction of Florida citrus since 2009, as reported by Citrus Industry: 100,000 acres of Florida citrus groves have disappeared, from 451,100 to 351,057 acres. Orange production is destroyed, from 133,700,000 boxes to 51,700,000 boxes. Grapefruit production has practicallyContinue ReadingCRDF’s Dantzler chronicles the wreckage of Florida Citrus since 2009