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Commissioner Adam Putnam

Commissioner Adam H. Putnam to Address Rural Economic Development Summit

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MEDIA ADVISORY

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam tomorrow will address the Rural Economic Development Summit, which is hosted by the Florida Rural Economic Development Association, in St. Augustine.
Event: Commissioner Adam H. Putnam to address the Rural Economic Development Summit
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017
Time: 5:45 p.m.
Location: Renaissance World Golf Village Resort
500 S. Legacy Trail
For more information or to access the Summit agenda, please contact Executive Director of the North Florida Economic Development Partnership Jeff Hendry at 850-443-7103 or [email protected].

Statement by Commissioner Adam Putnam on Updated Citrus Crop Forecast, Need for Federal Assistance

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Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam released the following statement today after the U.S. Department of Agriculture released its monthly citrus crop forecast for the 2017-2018 season:
“While much of the state has recovered and moved on from Hurricane Irma, Florida’s citrus growers continue to grapple with the unprecedented damage, which is still unfolding in many groves. Florida’s growers need support and they need it as quickly as possible. I will continue to work with Governor Scott and leaders in Washington to get Florida’s growers the support and relief they need to rebuild.”
The USDA’s forecast of 46 million boxes of oranges for the 2017-2018 season is down four million boxes from the November estimate. Today’s forecast represents a decline of more than 80 percent since the peak of citrus production at 244 million boxes during the 1997-98 season.
In the wake of Hurricane Irma, Commissioner Putnam announced that Florida citrus sustained more than $760 million in damages. In weeks following Hurricane Irma, Commissioner Putnam joined Governor Rick Scott in Washington D.C to discuss the agricultural damage and to request federal assistance with Florida’s Congressional Delegation.

Commissioner Adam Putnam’s Statement on Passage of Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017

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Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam issued the following statement following the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017, which allows a qualified individual to carry a concealed weapon in states that allow individuals to carry concealed weapons.
“This is a historic day for law-abiding gun owners and an affirmation that our constitutional right to keep and bear arms does not end when we leave our home state,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam. “Florida operates the nation’s largest concealed weapon licensing program, and national reciprocity will reduce the burden on Floridians who travel out of state with their guns.”
Florida currently operates the nation’s largest concealed weapon licensing program with more than 1.8 million active licenses and has reciprocity agreements with 36 other states.
Since coming into to office, Commissioner Putnam has worked to make applying for or renewing a Florida concealed weapon license as convenient and efficient as possible. In 2014, Commissioner Putnam launched a first-of-its-kind partnership with county tax-collector’s offices to receive applications, take fingerprints and send the information to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for processing. To date, 51 counties participate in the program and nearly 250,000 Floridians have applied for or renewed a concealed weapons license at a tax-collector’s office.
The department also expedites concealed weapon license applications for all active military members and veterans. To date, more than 90,000 active military members and veterans have received expedited concealed weapon licenses. And for the third time since taking office, Commissioner Putnam announced in June of 2017 that the fee to apply for or renew a concealed weapon license was lowered.

Commissioner Adam Putnam to Address Clewiston Chamber of Commerce

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MEDIA ADVISORY

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam tomorrow will address the Clewiston Chamber of Commerce.
Event: Commissioner Adam H. Putnam to address the Clewiston Chamber of Commerce
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: 1200 S W C Owen Ave., Clewiston, Fla. 33440

Commissioner Adam Putnam Requests Federal Disaster Relief for Florida Agriculture

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Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam today sent a letter to the Florida’s congressional delegation requesting much-needed disaster relief for Florida agriculture, which suffered a more than $2.5 billion hit due to Hurricane Irma. Excerpts from the letter are below:
“As you know Hurricane Irma, among the strongest hurricanes ever to make direct landfall in the United States, dealt a devastating blow to many sectors of Florida’s $120-billion-dollar agriculture industry.
“While members of our Florida delegation – under your leadership – worked tirelessly to include much-needed disaster assistance to help Florida’s agriculture industry in the face of mounting catastrophic losses, we were ultimately left out of the last aid package Congress considered. This omission was despite receiving commitments from leadership in both houses that our state would find relief in that round of funding.
“We all recognize that OMB’s request is only the Administrations’ recommendation and that Congress, considering the advice of the OMB, will now create a relief package that is responsive to and reflective of the damage sustained by the industry. Nonetheless, I am alarmed by the apparent lack of concern shown by OMB towards the needs of agriculture in the aftermath of such a historic storm.
“Congressman Tom Rooney has crafted language that will enable the USDA to provide $1.5 billion in emergency disaster assistance to address the catastrophic crop losses producers suffered due to this storm. I am hopeful that the entire delegation will support its inclusion in the next disaster relief supplemental.
“I look forward to working with you to address this dire situation and stand ready to provide any additional information necessary to support our request.”
To access the letter, click here.

Commissioner Adam Putnam Provides Tips to Avoid Black Friday, Cyber Monday Scams

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In advance of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Commissioner Adam H. Putnam is providing tips to help consumers avoid scams.
Keep the following tips in mind while shopping on Black Friday:

  • Some retailers may inflate prices ahead of Black Friday to create the illusion of a drastic price cut. Research the regular retail price of items to check how much will actually be saved.
  • Price matching policies may be suspended by some retailers between Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
  • Be wary of unexpected emails that claim to contain coupons with significant discounts and ask for personal information. Don’t click on any suspicious links. These may contain malware to compromise your identity.
  • Read the fine print at the bottom of sales ads, as sales may be limited to certain time periods, brands or quantities.

Below are precautions to take on Cyber Monday:

  • Avoid websites with odd or incorrect spellings of legitimate companies. Domain names that include hyphens are often red flags.
  • Beware of bogus websites promising unbelievable deals. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
  • Be wary of “delivery failure” or “order confirmation” emails for items you did not order. These may be used to gain a consumer’s personal information.
  • Use a credit card for online orders. It is easier to dispute and mediate fraudulent charges with a credit card than a debit card.
  • Use strong passwords for credit cards and bank accounts.

Consumers who believe fraud has taken place can contact the department’s consumer protection and information hotline at 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) or, for Spanish speakers, 1-800-FL-AYUDA (352-9832). For consumer protection information and resources, visit FloridaConsumerHelp.com.

Commissioner Adam Putnam Provides Safety Tips for Thanksgiving Celebrations

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Ahead of Thanksgiving, Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam and the Florida Forest Service are providing tips to ensure a safe holiday weekend.
The following tips can help prevent wildfire:

  • Avoid burning yard debris on dry, windy days.
  • Never leave a fire or outdoor heat source unattended.
  • Set up turkey fryers and grills at least 10 feet away from the home and away from overhanging branches and natural areas.
  • Clear an area around the heat source free of leaves, branches and other flammable debris or materials.
  • Have an appropriate fire suppression tool on hand (for turkey fryers, keep a multipurpose, dry powder fire extinguisher ready in the event that the oil ignites).
  • Keep children and pets away from fryers and grills.
  • Never dump used charcoal briquettes into dry grass or debris; douse coals with water and dispose of them in a metal container or bare mineral soil.

“By taking a few simple precautions, Floridians and visitors can take a proactive role in their wildfire safety this Thanksgiving holiday,” said Jim Karels, Florida State Forester.
Since January, the Florida Forest Service and its partners have responded to approximately 2,779 wildfires that have burned more than 200,000 acres. Visit the Florida Forest Service’s wildfire information webpage to view an interactive map of current active wildfires, drought and fire danger forecast information, and a list of current county burn bans.
The Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, manages more than 1 million acres of state forests and provides forest management assistance on more than 17 million acres of private and community forests. The Florida Forest Service is also responsible for protecting homes, forestland and natural resources from the devastating effects of wildfire on more than 26 million acres. Learn more at FloridaForestService.com.
For more information about the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FreshFromFlorida.com

Commissioner Adam Putnam’s Statement Regarding Annual Drugs Identified in Deceases Persons Report, Growing Opioid Epidemic

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Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam issued the following statement today after the release of the Florida Medical Examiners Commission’s Drugs Identified in Deceased Persons annual report, which showed a 22 percent increase in drug-related deaths and a 35 percent increase in opioid-related deaths in 2016 compared to 2015:
“Nearly every Floridian has been impacted by substance abuse in one way or another, and the opioid epidemic continues to claim and destroy lives at an exponential rate. Today’s report shows the grave reality of Florida’s opioid epidemic, and I applaud Governor Scott for declaring a state of emergency in response to this crisis and his leadership in proposing aggressive measures to combat opioid abuse.”

Commissioner Adam H. Putnam Praises Governor Rick Scott’s Wildland Firefighter, Law Enforcement Officer Pay Raise Proposals

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Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam issued the following statement regarding Governor Rick Scott’s proposed pay raises for Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ wildland firefighters and law enforcement officers:
“I thank Governor Scott for his commitment to Florida’s first responders and for proposing pay raises for our department’s wildland firefighters and law enforcement officers. These proposed raises will help us recruit and retain the best law enforcement officers and wildland firefighters to keep Floridians and visitors safe.”
For more information about the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FreshFromFlorida.com.

Statement by Commissioner Adam Putnam on Updated Citrus Crop Forecast

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Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam released the following statement today after the U.S. Department of Agriculture released its monthly citrus crop forecast for the 2017-2018 season:
“Today’s lowered forecast shows that the damage to Florida citrus from Hurricane Irma is still unfolding, and it will continue to for some time. Florida’s growers need support and they need it fast. I will continue to work with Governor Scott and leaders in Washington to get Florida’s growers the support and relief they need to rebuild as quickly as possible.”
The USDA’s forecast today of 50 million boxes of oranges for the 2017-2018 season is down 4 million boxes from the October estimate.
In the wake of Hurricane Irma, Commissioner Putnam announced that Florida citrus sustained more than $760 million in damages. Commissioner Putnam also joined Governor Rick Scott in Washington D.C to discuss the agricultural damage and to request federal assistance with Florida’s Congressional Delegation.
For more information about the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FreshFromFlorida.com.