This article made me think of you, if you're still around...and made me wonder how things are going for you in Arcadia. Moderator...this belongs in the other forum but I thought Ralph might be more likely to see it here if he still visits us. Florida's recovering citrus industry shows progress against greening
Stu, last time I had contact with Ralph, he was giving up on the grower side of the citrus industry and moving on in related distribution of produce.
He's consulting now, and was helping companies that are still trying. I'll let him know he has a question...
^^^^ What Stu said ^^^^ Tell him it feels good to come back once the trash gets taken out to the dumpster.....
Lol, gentlemen, it’s an honor and privilege to be able to say hello to each and every one of you, it’s been much too long, my apologies. I’ve definitely been peeking in at times, then from whatever update happened I lost my sign-in and it fell from there. The consistency I’ve been spoiled with after 30 years managing a Citrus business was changed about a year ago. The next generation decided to sell to Florida Power & Light for a solar field. So 2,600 acres on top of neighboring 14,000 acres is no longer farming but will become a solar field. I’ve been extremely blessed and thought about flat out retiring but I’m only 59 so that didn’t make sense. Then another Citrus company who wanted to buy our property asked if I would consider working for them. It was difficult for a couple milliseconds until they offered me 45% more money. And which falls into Stu’s original question on citrus greening. The company I now work for has been in the Citrus business for over 100 years. They have trialed out of necessity playing with Oxytetracycline for a few years and the results have been incredible. It’s not a cure but almost. It has been used in the apple, pear and plum industry for 50 years. So I met with the CFO of the company and he said how would you like to sell and manage a crew to administer the Oxy and restore the industry until you retire. So that’s exactly what I’ve been doing, both in-house and outside contract work and the fun that brings. It’s been really fun with about 10% of the stress I was currently dealing with. But watch how good a job you do…. I now have added another crew onto my entourage and to plant 250k trees next year while juggling everything else…. Three managers, 50 people what’s not to love I'm having fun and still making a dollar…. And I’ve been blessed with a girly, girl from my son who is almost two years old that rocks my world…. Now what is going on with all of you my friends And thank you Scott and Terry for hooking me up with a new password
All great news, Ralph. From the job description to the financial gains to the "10% of prior stress", to the most important thing of all, your granddaughter. Your life definitely is good. Merry Christmas!
Thank you Sid and Merry Christmas to you and your family, I just enjoyed my son scaring the crap out of me on our security camera as I aired up my wife’s tires. I figured I would sneak out there while it’s dark in my undies.
Ralph great to hear from you again. I recently read and article that was positive on the growth of the Fla Citrus industry and they mentioned that they have begun to get the handle on the greening problem. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Thank you Terry for allowing me to say hello and wish you a Merry Christmas as well, it’s really nice
Great to hear from you Ralph and I am delighted to learn that you you have found a nice paying job as well. With JIf gone, Bill and I are now the most senior members of this group.
What a nice Christmas gift. All that worry about hurricane wrecked Ralph wasted on what it a silver-lining story. I'm really happy to see the citrus industry finally turning the tide against greening. So Ralph is what you're getting like NIL?
Don, this definitely means both you and Bill have accrued the most wisdom out of all of us…. And for the record I’m just trying to make as much money as Kesley and Scott before I die.