Florida’s Governor, Ron DeSantis, raised a glass of grapefruit juice toward the sky. On either side of him stood local citrus leaders and international corporate executives, in front of two grapefruit trees.
DeSantis told a room of about 50 guests at Quail Valley River Club in Vero Beach on Tuesday: "I'd like to raise a glass to a tremendous announcement, a great new venture and a bright future for Florida citrus." DeSantis joined members of the Florida citrus industry and international business partners Tuesday to announce the first major grapefruit planting since citrus greening and hurricane damage wiped away most of the state's grapefruit groves.
Teamed up with the Coca-Cola Company and Japan-based flavoring company Takasago International Corporation, local citrus businesses Peace River Citrus Products and Scott Family Companies plan to invest over $25 million to plant 250,000 grapefruit trees on 1,500 acres of St. Lucie and Indian River County land.
The Coca-Cola Company will enter a "long-term agreement" to purchase the processed grapefruit juice from the new groves for its global juice brands.
"Through this viable partnership and meaningful investment like the one we have today, we will foster sustainable growth for the Florida citrus industry," Quoted Mark Westfall, the Chief Procurement Officer for The Coca-Cola Company, as saying: eu.tcpalm.com.
