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Florida Citrus Processors Association Records, 1931-2021

 

Summary

Creator:
Florida Citrus Processor's Association
Extent:
7.50 Linear Feet
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains the following materials from the Florida Citrus Processors Association:

Annual Statistical Reports:

This series contains the annual statistical reports produced by the Association as well as the bimonthly statistical reports produced by CPA from 1950-1952. In 2000, the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) began producing annual statistical reports, and in 2006, the Department officially took over the task of producing the annual statistical reports for citrus processing due to an organizational restructure of FCPA. This series is arranged chronologically.

Correspondence: This series contains correspondence primarily between Emory Cocke of SuniCitrus Products and both the Citrus Processors Association and the Florida Canners Association. This series is arranged chronologically.

Directories: This series consists of membership directories for both FCA and FCPA. These directories may also include statistical information for the year that is also available in the Annual Reports. This series is arranged chronologically.

Labels: Canning: The labels in this subseries are those for orange, grapefruit, tangerine, and citrus blend juice products as well as grapefruit segments and citrus fruit salads. This sub-series is arranged alphabetically. Glass: The labels in this subseries are those for orange and grapefruit juice products. This sub-series is arranged alphabetically.

Legislation: This series contains the entire 27 volumes of the Food and Drug Administration Hearings in 1961 in regards to Orange Juice Standards. Also included are impact analysis reports as well as litigation in regards to federal and state legislation passed. This series is arranged chronologically within each sub-series.

Meeting Programs: This series contains programs for the 24th and the 43rd-45th Annual Meetings for FCA as well as the 50th and 52nd-57th Annual Meetings for FCPA. This series is arranged chronologically.

Photographs: This series includes photographs taken or used by FCPA. This series is arranged chronologically.

Marketing: This series contains ephemera from FCPA presumably used for marketing purposes including tie clips, brochures, and magazine articles. This series is arranged chronologically

Biographical / historical:

Florida Grapefruit Canners Association (ca. 1926-1937):

The Florida Citrus Processors Association (FCPA) began around 1926 as a loose affiliation of canning associations and companies under the guidance of Claude Everett "C.E." Street of the Florida Grapefruit Canning Company. On December 7, 1931, the Florida Grapefruit Canners Association (FGCA) was officially established during its first meeting. C.E. Street was named President and Clifford Charles "C.C." Rathbun was named permanent Secretary after having served the group for four years. At this time, the organization was based in Tampa, Florida. In 1932, FGCA began working with the U.S.D.A. Citrus Products Station, which was established in 1931 in Winter Haven, Florida, to establish standards on canned grapefruit. This cooperation would extend beyond the establishment of these standards as the FGCA financially supported and advocated for the laboratory. The Florida Citrus Commission (FCC), established in 1935, would also join FGCA in supporting the laboratory.

Florida Canners Association (1937-1978):

In 1937, FGCA changed its name to Florida Canners Association (FCA); the organization was chartered and incorporated on August 13. During the 1940s, FCA continued to support the USDA laboratory in Winter Haven alongside the FCC, including Dr. L.G. MacDowell's research into packing citrus products in glass. In 1950, under President C. Howard Sweatt, FCA reached 100% participation from all canning companies within the state of Florida. In 1951, FCA took over the Canners League of Florida, which had been established in 1948, as well as that organization's informational services. In 1956, FCA moved their headquarters to Winter Haven, Florida after the city had donated land to the Association. In 1961, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) held hearings regarding the standards of orange juice. Director Marvin H. Walker (President, 1951-1952) provided testimony and Secretary C.C. Rathbun was also present for these hearings. In 1962, the long-serving C.C. Rathbun retired as Executive Vice President after having served the organization since its beginning. He remained as a consultant to the organization and served as Chairman on the Board of Directors. Warren E. Savant succeeded Rathbun as the Executive Secretary for FCA and later became Executive Vice President himself.

Citrus Processors Association (1941-1964):

In 1941, the Citrus Processors Association (CPA) was formed, and by 1950, the organization was based out of Lakeland, Florida. However, while at first independent from FCA, the two organizations began working closely together in 1951 when FCA took over the reporting of statistics regarding citrus processing and citrus processing by-products. FCA Executive Secretary C.C. Rathbun also served as the Manager of CPA. By 1952, CPA had moved their organization over to Tampa, where FCA was based at the time. When FCA made the move to Winter Haven in 1956, CPA followed and was housed in the same building as FCA. On April 16, 1964, CPA and its activities were fully absorbed into the Florida Canners Association. At the same time as this merger, the Citrus By-Products Committee was formed out of the directors of CPA to continue serving the citrus pulp industry and its interests.

Florida Citrus Processors Association (1978 – Present):

On May 25, 1978, the Florida Canners Association changed its name to Florida Citrus Processors Association in order to better reflect the members of the organization. In 1984, Executive Vice President Savant retired and Clifford C. Beasley, Jr. assumed the role. In 1999, Lisa Young Rath became the Executive Vice President following Beasley's resignation. Rath would hold the position until she resigned from the organization in 2006. In 2000, Florida Citrus Processors Association II (FCPA II) submitted its first state corporation filing, and in 2001, FCPA merged with FCPA II. In 2006, FCPA II reverted to its original name of Florida Citrus Processors Association and Kristen Carlson became Executive Director of the newly merged organization. However, in the same year, FCPA lost most of its staff and its building due to spending cuts. In 2013, Ansley Watson, Jr., the son of former FCA President Ansley Watson, Sr. (1955-1956), took over as Executive Director. He served until 2018, when Kristen Carlson resumed her role as Executive Director. As of 2021, the organization is currently housed in the Tampa offices of MacFarlane, Ferguson, & McMullen where Executive Director Carlson is an attorney. Throughout the years, FCPA has worked with various state and federal organizations, including, but not limited to, the Florida Citrus Commission (now the Florida Department of Citrus), Florida Citrus Mutual, the Citrus Experiment Station (now known as the Citrus Research Experiment Center) in Lake Alfred, the US Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Canners Association. Also affiliated with FCPA was the now defunct Florida Citrus Processors for Good Government, Inc. campaign finance committee. As of 2021, FCPA works in collaboration with the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame each year to host the Florida Citrus Processors Association "O.J. Meet and Greet" at the Hall of Fame's annual induction ceremony luncheon hosted at Florida Southern College.

Additional Sources: Bouffard, Kevin. "High Prices for Orange Juice Send Sales Down." The Ledger (Lakeland, Florida), March 14, 2006. "Florida Canners Consolidate Trade Groups." The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), December 16, 1951. "FLORIDA CITRUS PROCESSORS ASSOCIATION, INC." Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations. http://search.sunbiz.org/Inquiry/CorporationSearch/ByName. "FLORIDA CITRUS PROCESSORS ASSOCIATION II, INC." Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations. http://search.sunbiz.org/Inquiry/CorporationSearch/ByName. "FLORIDA CITRUS PROCESSORS FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT, INC." Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations. http://search.sunbiz.org/Inquiry/CorporationSearch/ByName. Power, Paul, Jr. "Rath Getting New Job; The Insider." The Ledger (Lakeland, Florida), February 10, 1999. "Trade Group Gets New Chief; Citrus Agency Wins." The Ledger (Lakeland, Florida), May 19, 2006

Acquisition information:
In April 1994, FCPA Executive Vice President Clifford C. Beasley, Jr. donated some of the annual statistical reports (1931-1993) as well as the compilation of the 1961 FDA hearings to the Thomas B. Mack Citrus Archives. Clifford C. Beasley, Jr. also donated some citrus glass and canning labels that he received around 1975; however, it is unknown when this donation arrived at the Archives. As part of his donation to the Thomas B. Mack Citrus Archives in 1979, Emory Cocke included materials concerning FCA, CPA, and FCPA, including annual statistical reports and correspondence. The FDOC 2000-2020 Annual Statistical Reports were printed by McKay Archives staff and included with this collection. It is unknown when the rest of the materials in this collection were donated to the Citrus Archives. The Thomas B. Mack Citrus Archives were transferred to the Roux Library in 2005 then to the McKay Archives Center in 2009.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research. Researchers must contact McKay Archives in advance for access to unprocessed born digital materials in this collection. Collection restrictions, copyright limitations, or technical complications may hinder the SPCUA's ability to provide access to unprocessed born digital materials.

Terms of access:

Permission to publish material from the Florida Citrus Processors Association Records must be obtained from Sarah D. and L. Kirk McKay, Jr. Archives Center or the appropriate copyright holder. Please inquire if you have questions at 863-680-4453.

Location of this collection:
Florida Southern College
111 Lake Hollingsworth Dr.
Lakeland
FL
33801
USA