BARTOW, Fla. \u2013\u00a0A lot has changed in the Florida Citrus industry since 1940.\u00a0But, at least one thing remains the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For 75 years, the Florida Citrus Reporter\u00a0has delivered its weekly, legal-sized, goldenrod-hued newsletter to Florida Citrus growers across the state. Inside: wall-to-wall coverage of an industry in constant flux.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Started by Jack Gurnett, the Florida Citrus Reporter began\u00a0at a\u00a0time\u00a0when there was no other source for in-depth\u00a0industry news. Over the years, it attracted thousands of subscribers, allowing it to continue as one of the longest-running independent and advertising-free newsletters in the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, helmed by its third editor, Karen McEver, the newsletter continues\u00a0its tradition of unbiased reporting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think (the readers) trust the newsletter to be honest and straightforward and it has always been that way,\u201d McEver said.\u00a0\u201cSomeone once told me that the newsletter holds up a mirror to the industry so that it can see itself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Doug Ackerman, executive director of the Florida Department of Citrus, describes McEver\u2019s work as \u201cmust-read\u201d content for the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe fills a void, and she does it with integrity and her own unique perspective,\u201d Ackerman said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
McEver became involved with the Florida Citrus Reporter around 1980 and began writing the newsletter in 2000, shortly before the death\u00a0of its second editor and Gurnett\u2019s daughter, Nancy Gurnett Hardy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even after 35 years in the industry,\u00a0McEver said she still gets surprised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is an unfolding story,\u201d McEver said. \u201cI think we will always be learning things in this industry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One thing that doesn\u2019t surprise her: the industry\u2019s ability to overcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere is an unquestionable collective intelligence in this industry that has always proven to withstand whatever trials they face,\u201d McEver said. \u201cThat\u2019s inspiring.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, it\u2019s the people McEver interacts with everyday that keep her going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGeneration after generation they retain that same tenacity that I heard Jack Gurnett originally talk about,\u201d McEver said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While McEver strives to remain unbiased in her reporting, it\u2019s almost impossible to not feel the highs and lows of the industry she covers so closely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI assure you I panic along with every grower who\u2019s fruit is falling off the tree,\u201d McEver said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Still, McEver continues to report on how the industry is changing once again, due to citrus greening. And, she keeps hope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo other place has invested the kind of research dollars we have,\u201d McEver said. \u201cDo I think the industry will survive? Yes. Do I think the face of the industry will change? Yes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Either way, the Florida Citrus Reporter will continue to report on it all, most likely in the same traditional, paper and \u201csnail mail\u201d format it always has.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGrowers\u00a0love the hard copy,\u201d McEver said. \u201cThey want to hold it in their hands.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Florida Citrus Commission passed a resolution at its January 21 meeting honoring the\u00a0Florida Citrus Reporter for its 75 years of dedication to the industry and named McEver an honorary Florida Citrus grower.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
At the helm as the newsletter’s third editor is Karen McEver. BARTOW, Fla. \u2013\u00a0A lot has changed in the Florida Citrus industry since 1940.\u00a0But, at least one thing remains the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":83,"template":"","fdoc_news_item_category":[100],"fdoc_citrus_type":[],"fdoc_health_category":[],"class_list":["post-4161","fdoc-news-item","type-fdoc-news-item","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","fdoc_news_item_category-industry"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t