If you're a college football fan, then you know that states have been facing off with each other since last week. However, in what we could call a foodish Citrus Bowl, Florida has won out over California in a lawsuit in which Florida Agriculture officials issues a quarantine against citrus shipments from California. The quarantine was issued to protect the State of Florida's citrus industry from a potential plant fungus. California citrus growers sought a temporary injunction in order to keep shipping, but the Florida judge denied it.We're not quite sure what the big deal here is with California. Florida already has oranges, so why wouldn't they want to keep California oranges out of the state? We're sure there are plenty of people on the western half of the country who can eat all those oranges.
Second Helping of Slashfood - June 19
Competitive-Eating Contest to Pit Humans Against Elephants
The Backyard Boom - The Hungry Bride
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-30-2007 @ 10:50AM
Henry said...
Florida wants to keep California oranges out because of citrus fungus. Citrus canker has decimated the citrus industry (and forced them to cut down my citrus trees!) and the industry will do anything to protect their assets. Also, it's not an east west citrus market, most FL oranges are made into juice and most CA oranges are sold as fruit.
Reply
12-30-2007 @ 7:52PM
Bill said...
Yes, it is understandable that Florida growers and officials may want to keep California citrus out of Florida, but that is not sufficient legal grounds. If the quarentine is simply a ploy to prevent competition by out-of-state suppliers, then it is a classic example of illegal restraint of interstate commerce. It would also be illegal for California and Florida to agree on spliting the U.S. into regional monopolies in the East and the West.
Reply
12-30-2007 @ 8:21PM
Bill said...
If California sought relief in a Florida State court, then the court's denial of an injunction is not very significant because it seems to be a Federal issue. Before a Federal court will intervene, California may have to show that it has exhausted all other legal remedies and that there is at least some chance of demonstating that Florida's action is unjustified on legitimate grounds. Otherwise, I think that all they can achieve is a temporary injunction in Federal court.
Reply
12-31-2007 @ 12:12PM
Stimpy said...
This is like the California vs. Wisconsin battle for dairy supremacy. Cal's sheer numbers proved too much for the "Dairy State."
Reply