Florida growers launch lawsuit against FDOC

摘要

Five major Florida citrus growers have filed a US100 million dollar suit claiming the state's advertising tax on juice products is not only squeezing them dry, but is also unconstitutional. This follows recent challenges by both Brazilian and California growers against Florida's citrus department over a similar 'equalisation tax'. The Florida growers' lawsuit contends that the tax, which provides most of the operating revenue at the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC), violates their free speech and free association rights. The 'box tax' (16.5 US cents/box for orange juice and 20 US cents/box for grapefruit juice) mainly finances the department's primary mission: promoting the sale and consumption of Florida citrus products in domestic and international markets. The growers claim they are subsidising advertising on oranges and grapefruits they may not have produced. The FDOC, however, has reviewed the allegations and believes the complaint to be legally unfounded. Box taxes will account for nearly US51 million dollar of the FDOC's US64.4 million dollar budget during the 2002/03 fiscal year. Nearly US40 million dollar of this year's tax money will go on advertising orange juice, by far the state's largest citrus commodity, with 95 percent of Florida oranges pressed to juice annually.