Division of Marketing and Development
Nelson L. Mongiovi, Director
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner
Nominations are being accepted for the 2010 "Woman of the Year in Agriculture" award. The award, now in its 26th year, recognizes women who have made outstanding contributions to Florida agriculture. Those nominated for the award will be judged by a panel familiar with Florida agriculture. The award will be presented on February 10, 2011, during the opening-day luncheon of the Florida State Fair in Tampa. The deadline for submitting nominations to the Department is November 1, 2010.
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The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has teamed up with Pilgrim's Pride, a North Florida poultry processor, to let Florida consumers know they can choose chicken that is fresh and local, produced right here in the Sunshine State.
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Horse owners are urged to get their animals vaccinated following an upsurge in the number of Eastern Equine Encephalitis cases. EEE is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system and is transmitted to horses by infected mosquitoes. Signs include fever, listlessness, stumbling, circling, coma and usually death.
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Two Oriental fruit flies have been found in Pinellas County during routine surveillance conducted by Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services inspectors. The Oriental fruit fly is one of the most serious of the world’s fruit fly pests due to its potential economic harm. It attacks more than 100 fruits, vegetables and nuts, including citrus, apples, guava, mango, tomatoes and peppers. An intensified trapping program has been launched in an 81-square-mile area surrounding the fruit fly find.
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Eradication has been declared in the Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) outbreak in Palm Beach County. Regulations have been lifted and fruit movement is no longer prohibited. Eradication is achieved when three life cycles of the Medfly (approximately 60 days) have passed without finding another wild Medfly. The harmful pests were first discovered during routine fruit fly trap monitoring in June. This was the first major Medfly outbreak since 1998.
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