Citrus research; administration by Department of Citrus; appropriation.

(1) The department shall administer this section and prescribe suitable and reasonable rules to properly implement this section.

(2) The department shall:

(a)1. Conduct or cause to be conducted a thorough and comprehensive study of citrus fruit and the juices thereof:

a. With respect to the quality and maturity of such fruit and the juices thereof, including proper effort to assemble data and arrive at a proper standard of quality, grade, and maturity with reference to its texture, stability, and general marketability and so far as possible reduce such findings to specific and readily understood chemical, mathematical, or descriptive terms; and

b. With respect to the nutritional and other value or values of such fruit and the juices thereof.

2. Provide suitable facilities and equipment of every kind whatsoever proper and necessary in connection with all such work.

(b) Conduct or cause to be conducted such study and research as is necessary to provide all the information and data required to be disseminated pursuant to this section.

(c) Provide suitable and sufficient laboratory facilities and equipment, making use of the laboratory facilities and equipment of the University of Florida, insofar as it is practicable for the purpose of conducting thorough and comprehensive study and research to determine all possible new and further uses for citrus fruit and citrus fruit juices and the products and byproducts into which the same can be converted or manufactured, as well as to determine and develop new and profitable methods and instruments of distribution thereof.

(d) Carry on, or cause to be carried on, suitable experiments in an effort to prove the commercial value of each, and determine and develop new and further use for citrus fruit and citrus fruit juices or the products and byproducts into which the same can be converted or manufactured.

(e) Carry on or cause to be carried on suitable experiments in an effort to prove the commercial value of any and all new profitable methods and instruments of distribution of citrus fruit and citrus fruit juices and the products and byproducts into which the same can be converted or manufactured.

(f) Carry on or cause to be carried on an economic and marketing research program relating to citrus fruits and products or byproducts thereof.

(g) Enter into any mutually satisfactory contracts or agreements with any person, firm, institution, corporation, or business unit, as well as any state or federal agency, that the department deems wise, necessary, and expedient in the administration of this chapter.

(h) Incur and pay such expenses and obligations as are necessary in connection with and required for the proper administration of this chapter.

(i) Conduct or cause to be conducted any research related to disease and crop efficiency that would advance the purposes of the state’s citrus industry and commercialization related to advancing such research.

(3) An entity that solicits research proposals and awards funding for those proposals expending funds received from the State Treasury on citrus production research conducted pursuant to chapter 573, as recommended by the Citrus Research and Field Trial Foundation, Inc., or conducted through contract with the department shall deliver a report that includes all of the following information to the commission biannually and at the request of the commission:

(a) Project plans selected for funding.

(b) The financial status of the projects.

(c) Current findings of the funded research.

(d) Availability of citrus products or application of growers’ practices found through funded research.

(e) The status of the commercialization process of such products or practices.

(4) Before being released for sale to the general public, any new variety of citrus fruit which is developed as a result of any research or study accomplished using any percentage of funds from the State Treasury as well as any technology that enhances the marketability of new or current citrus fruit varieties must be made available as a first option for licensing and commercialization for a period of 90 days, under commercially reasonable terms, exclusively to the department or its designee. If the department or its designee exercises such exclusive license, the Florida Citrus Commission may retain the exclusivity for up to 8 years after the date of execution.

(5) There is appropriated and made available for defraying the expenses of the administration of this section from the moneys derived from advertising assessments levied on citrus fruit such amounts as the department may deem necessary within the percentage limitations imposed by s. 601.15.