LAKELAND (March 13, 2013) – Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam will moderate a panel discussion at Florida Southern College in April celebrating the 500th anniversary of the birth of the citrus industry in Florida.

The panel discussion is one of a series of six events, accompanied by a traveling exhibition, that will be held around the state during 2013 highlighting different parts of agriculture in Florida. The discussion at FSC, “A Celebration of Florida Citrus Through the Years,” will focus on the citrus industry.

The event will begin with an open house and tour of the exhibition, “Florida Agriculture: Then and Now,” at 6 p.m. April 11 in the Sarah D. and L. Kirk McKay, Jr., Archives Center at FSC. The panel discussion will follow at 7 p.m. in the Annie Pfeiffer Chapel on campus.

Noting that Juan Ponce de Leon, the Spanish explorer who landed in Florida in 1513, planted citrus trees and introduced cattle and horses, Putnam said, “Though the agricultural production of early settlers was just enough to feed themselves, it marked the beginning of a booming industry that would grow to the more than $100 billion in economic impact today. I encourage all Floridians to join in celebrating our 500th anniversary and honoring the growth, expansion and diversification of Florida agriculture.”

Joining Dr. James M. Denham, professor of history and director of the Lawton M. Chiles, Jr., Center for Florida History at FSC, will be a panel of seven distinguished leaders in the Florida citrus industry:

• Jerry Chicone, grove owner, former Citrus Commissioner and Citrus Hall of Fame inductee
• FSC alumnus Jim Ellis, an administrator at the Winter Haven office of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and a member of the Citrus Hall of Fame selection committee
• Tim Hurner, recently retired Citrus Agent for Highlands County
• Lindsay Raley, President of Raley Groves, President and Chairman of the Board for Dundee Citrus Growers Association, Florida’s Natural Growers Director and member of the Florida Citrus Commission
• FSC alumnus Dan Richey, Chief Executive Officer of Riverfront Packing, former Chairman of the Florida Citrus Commission, former President of Florida Citrus Packers and former Chairman and President of the Indian River Citrus League
• Phillip Rucks, owner of Phillip Rucks Citrus Nursery, Inc., in Frostproof
• Peter McClure, Agricultural Research and Business Development Manager at Evans Properties, Inc., and President of Double K Groves, Inc.

For reservations for the panel discussion, please call 680-4113 or email rsvp@flsouthern.edu by 5 p.m. on April 5.

For more information about the 500th anniversary of Florida agriculture, visit the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

The exhibition, “Florida Agriculture: Then and Now,” will be on display at the McKay Archives Center April 10-30. It is free and open to the public. Visiting hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays through Fridays.