BARTOW, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed three members to the Florida Citrus Commission Wednesday.
The appointments renew seats for Carlos Martinez and Jonathan “Ned” Hancock. The appointment of John Patrick Schirard fills a seat previously held by Lee Bouldin, who resigned in 2018.
Martinez, of Orlando, is a procurement manager at the Coca-Cola Company. He represents District 1, which includes Polk County as well as much of the Eastern Central coast of Florida. Martinez received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida and his master’s degree from St. Leo University.
Hancock, of Sebring, is the owner and president of Hancock Citrus, Inc. A fifth-generation citrus grower, he represents District 2, which includes Hardee, Highlands, DeSoto and Glades counties. Hancock received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida.
Schirard, of Vero Beach, is the president of GEM Indian River Select, which has holdings in Lake, Brevard, Polk and Indian River counties. A fourth-generation citrus grower, he represents District 1. Schirard earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida.
The Florida Citrus Commission is the governing board of the Florida Department of Citrus, an executive agency of the Florida government charged with the marketing, research and regulation of the Florida Citrus industry. The commission is a nine-member board appointed by the governor to represent citrus growers, processors and packers. Appointments are for three-year terms and are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
Martinez, Hancock and Schirard join Chairman G. Ellis Hunt Jr., Dan Caspar, Aeden Dowling, Francisco Pines, V.C. Hollingsworth III and Martin J. McKenna on the commission.
About the Florida Citrus Commission
The Florida Citrus Commission is the governing board of the Florida Department of Citrus, an executive agency of the Florida government charged with the marketing, research and regulation of the Florida citrus industry. The commission is a nine-member board appointed by the governor to represent citrus growers, processors and packers. FDOC activities are funded by a tax paid by growers on each box of citrus that moves through commercial channels. The industry employs 50,000 people and provides an annual economic impact of $7.2 billion to the state. For more information about the Florida Department of Citrus, please visit FloridaCitrus.org.
